The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) administrator Mike Whitaker will be stepping down from his role on January 20, 2025 - coinciding with President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.
Whitaker said in a letter to staff that the role had been “the honour of my lifetime" and had been “the best and most challenging job of my career”.
“As I conclude my time at the FAA, my confidence in you to meet our safety mission has never been stronger,” Whitaker continued.
Whitaker began serving as administrator since October 2023, beginning his tenure at the time when the agency was contending with safety challenges and air traffic controller issues. It was then thrust into the headlines after the Flight 1282 incident in January 2024, where a door plug blew out shortly after takeoff on an Alaska Airline 737 MAX aircraft. The federal body had temporarily grounded the aircraft before imposing production sanctions on Boeing's 737 programme. His departure comes as it continues to grapple with these issues, with the FAA still not raised its 38-per-month production cap on the aircraft.
“It has not been business as usual for Boeing,” said Whitaker. “We have dramatically increased oversight, including more inspectors and closer scrutiny over production. We are also making sure the company implements a robust safety management system, which will be crucial to an enduring safety culture.”
Deputy administrator Katie Thomson will also step down, effective January 10, 2025. Assistant administrator for finance & management Mark House will step in as acting deputy administrator. House has 20 years of executive experience at the FAA and has served on the management board since 2018.
It remains to be seen just who Trump - in his second term - will select to replace Whitaker, though he has not been hesitant in filling positions. The position does require experience in the aviation industry in order to assume the role.
Whitaker had spent 15 years at United Airlines in various executive roles as well as nearly four years at Supernal - an advanced air mobility company developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.