Top FAA official says he will depart, aggravating leadership void

The acting administrator of the FAA, Billy Nolen, on Friday said he will depart this summer, worsening a leadership void at the agency. The departure of Nolen, a former pilot and airline industry group executive, was announced in a letter to FAA employees. The move puts added heat on the White House to find a permanent leader for the agency, which is facing an array of safety concerns and staffing challenges. The aviation regulator has been without permanent leadership since Stephen Dickson, a former Delta Air Lines executive who was appointed by President Donald J. Trump, stepped down a year ago. Last month, President Biden’s pick to lead the FAA, Phillip A. Washington, withdrew his name from consideration after a series of attacks from Republicans on his qualifications to hold the post. They had argued that Washington, the CE of Denver International Airport, lacked sufficient aviation experience, and raised questions about his connection to a corruption investigation in Los Angeles. ​​Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, the top Republican on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, opposed Washington’s nomination but suggested that he would support Nolen as a candidate for the position, citing his long career and expertise. Nolen was previously the FAA’s associate administrator for aviation safety. Nolen’s departure comes as the agency faces challenges with flight scheduling, staffing shortages and safety issues, including a series of runway near collisions.<br/>