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NEWS: The Senate Commerce Committee will advance Byran Bedford's nomination for FAA administrator during a markup on Wednesday, June 25. If the nomination passes out of committee (I expect it to), it will go to the full Senate floor for a confirmation vote.

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BREAKING: Big move for ATR in the U.S., turboprops coming to JSX. Details forthcoming. #pas25

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FAA chief still sees no need for immediate action in response to 787 crash (via Flight Global) www.flightglobal.com/safety/faa-c...

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For context, the FAA budget for the full fiscal year is about $20 billion

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NEWS: Sec. SEAN DUFFY says during a press conference that he is asking the Senate to add an ADDITIONAL $8 or $9 billion to the existing $12.5 billion they have already allocated for ATC modernization. This is a HUGE ask as the chamber debates several other budget issues.

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Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau says at a press conference that he spoke with his counterpart in India today, the Director General of Civil Aviation, and offered the agency's full support as the Air India investigation plays out.

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With extremely short notice (not unusual), a press conference has been called at DOT HQ on Air India. Follow along for updates at 4pm ET.

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FAA statement on Air India flight 171, which crashed earlier this morning (evening India time) after takeoff from Ahmedabad.

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Bedford says that it would be a "heavy lift" to get to the point where technology can permit single pilot operations for commercial air service, in line with reporting from @theaircurrent.com on his other remarks about this topic: theaircurrent.com/regulation/b...

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After being confronted by Sen. Baldwin (D-WI) with a quote of Bedford criticizing the economic merits of Milwaukee, WI, the FAA nominee said "I'm not sure where that quote came from, maybe I was drinking, sorry."

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Bedford said that an arbitrary age 65 pilot retirement age doesn't feel right to him, given that he believes there are "really experienced pilots with a lot of gas in the tank" at that point in their careers.

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Sen. Duckworth told me this in the hallway after questioning FAA nominee Bryan Bedford: "I don't know whether or not I can support somebody who won't commit to not reducing the 1,500 hour rule but I will look at the rest of his testimony."

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During questioning by Sen. Duckworth, Bedford says that he doesn't believe "safety is static" -- not saying explicitly whether or not he would lower the 1,500 hour requirement for commercial airline pilots.

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Interesting response from Bedford on 1,500 hr: "I've been a supporter of 1500 hours, contrary to what some of the press might say, because it did require structured training" like ATP/CTP etc. This reflects his position but it feels like a stretch to say he's been a "supporter."

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Bedford says that in 2017 industry "hijacked" the ATC modernization dialogue "and turned it into a privatization debate." Adds that he doesn't think now is the right time to have that debate about privatization.

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Somewhat of a contentious exchange just now b/w Cantwell and Bedford on spectrum radio bands. She also pressed him on whether he would commit to NOT changing the 1,500 hour rule if confirmed, to which he deflected by saying that his focus will be on ATC modernization. Expect more on this.

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Sen. Ted Cruz asks Bedford to commit to serving a full, five year term at the FAA to which he agrees. A Senate-confirmed FAA administrator has not completed their full term since Michael Huerta left in 2018.

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Sen. Ted Cruz, while introducing FAA nominee Bryan Bedford, says the nominee understands that "1500 hours of mindless banner towing is no way to train a commercial pilot," referencing a potential challenge to existing pilot training rules.

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NEWS: Garmin announces G5000 Prime flight deck for Part 25 aircraft, confirming @theaircurrent.com's scoop from April:

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Good morning. Just arrived to the Hill today to cover Bedford's nomination hearing. Follow along here for updates during what is surely expected to be an interesting couple of hours. You can also livestream here: www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/6/senat...

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The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board will hold a THREE day investigative hearing on the DCA midair collision in Washington D.C. starting on July 30, @theaircurrent.com has learned. The board will use this to gather more evidence and sworn testimony on the accident.

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We put together some more essential reading from @theaircurrent.com ahead of Wednesday’s hearing. Check it out here: theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

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New: A bipartisan group of Senators has asked the both the DOT & Army inspector generals to audit airspace safety issues in the wake of the DCA crash:

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Trump’s FAA Pick Once Played a Flight Attendant on TV. It Drew FAA Scrutiny. (via @andrewtangel.bsky.social) www.wsj.com/business/air...

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NEWS: Dem Senators release new aviation safety bill - Requires airlines to have ADSB in - Ends DOD ADSB out exemptions - Creates Mil aviation oversight office at FAA - Requires DOD to share safety data with FAA … among others. Unlikely it gets traction right now given the budget fight.

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NEWS: The Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing to consider Bryan Bedford’s nomination for FAA Administrator on June 11 at 10 am. Background from @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/regulation/b...

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NEW: Details about the administration’s ambitious ATC plan continue to unfold, now with the DOT seeking a single “integrator” to oversee all of the modernization work (via @theaircurrent.com) theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

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Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau says that his agency is NOT considering allowing Boeing to go above building 38 aircraft a month “at this time,” he told reporters at the Capitol.

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Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau says at a Congressional budget hearing that he "has never had a conversation with Elon Musk," in line with what he told @theaircurrent.com in March: theaircurrent.com/regulation/r...

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The unleaded fuel saga continues with a California judge denying a request to mandate GAMI's fuel at several California airports. The implications are much bigger though, and provide new details about a fierce debate over how to approve these fuels. theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

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SCOOP: White House readies executive orders on drone rulemaking, competitiveness (via @theaircurrent.com) theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

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This story was interesting for two reasons: As a pilot, I found Garmin's effort to fundamentally change charts super interesting for safety. As a journalist, there are deep strategic implications with this product launch as the company looks to expand services revenue. Read more on both below ⬇️

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The biggest public private partnership in U.S. history is happening at an airport - and that’s huge news. Read more in my latest for @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/airports/jfk...

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NEWS: the FAA has finalized an interim order setting Newark Airport's maximum hourly rate to 28 arrivals & 28 departures, for a total of 56 hourly operations. www.faa.gov/newsroom/sta...

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HANNAH WALDEN, fmr director of communications at Airlines for America, has been named as the FAA's next Assistant Administrator for Communications, per the agency's website.

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The radar issues at Newark Airport were mentioned in last night’s Saturday Night Live Cold Open youtu.be/DK83sAPd_fc?...

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The FAA and airlines completed their Newark delay reduction mtg today. The agency says that a final decision on the below Newark rate proposal will come “on or after May 28.”

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Really enjoyed this conversation with @lizzieohreally.bsky.social for What Next: TBD, where we talked about all things Newark and ATC modernization. She asked fantastic questions! Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/46q6...

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A United Airlines Boeing 767 as seen from an airport ops vehicle. Epic day at Dulles. Shout out to @middleseatview.bsky.social for setting us up big time. More photos to come.

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We sent @elanhead.com to Kyiv. She came back with this utterly fantastic story. Read it today on @theaircurrent.com:

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NEW: FAA will continue the Newark delay reduction meeting tomorrow, as originally anticipated.

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NEWS: DOT says that the Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations rule making has been submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for required review. This is huge news for a rule that has not moved in some time.

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Per tradition at Team @theaircurrent.com, we are starting @bgarrettglaser.bsky.social off at an aviation museum during his first days. To, ya know, make sure he like airplanes, too.

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Our 4th big wave of expansion: The decision to bring on @briangarrett.bsky.social as managing editor is foundational. A managing editor is core to our continuous & sustainable expansion as we evolve from our roots as a scrappy new media startup to a durable institution that serves this industry.

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Sec. Duffy said today that he thinks the STARS radar system that feeds Newark should have been fully moved ahead of the airspace being cut over to Philadelphia, instead of just a temporary patch. @theaircurrent.com reported on this last year: theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...

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The FAA will convene a "tiger team" comprised of FAA, L3 Harris (equip contractor) and Verizon (telecom provider) reps to address the ongoing issues at Newark and expedite equipment upgrades.

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