Michael Whitaker will be the new administrator of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). After rumors in recent days regarding support from the Republican opposition in the United States Congress, in the last few hours the Senate has given the green light to the candidate proposed by Democratic President Joe Biden. The appointment comes after 19 months in which the position was vacant. 

Whitaker, current commercial director of Supernal (Hyundai Group), a company that develops electric air taxis, was previously deputy administrator of the agency skies regulation during the presidency of Barack Obama . In his extensive experience in the aviation field he has held important roles at several airlines, including United Airlines. The new administrator will lead FAA for a five-year term. The new administrator has the support of a variety of aviation industry groups, including those representing airlines, pilots and passengers.

Among the priorities of Whitaker's mandate is to restore the authority of the FAA's role on safety issues, air traffic control, and aircraft certification. The agency has in fact entered into crisis after being put under scrutiny for a series of facts: the numerous near-collisions between planes in American airports, the inconveniences due to the lack of personnel in traffic control, the two fatal accidents involving aircraft B-737 MAX, certified as safe by the FAA.