The job of FAA Chief was opened late Wednesday when the FAA announced administrator Steve Dickson, 64, would resign effective March 31, about halfway through his five-year term.
Among those mentioned by congressional and industry officials as potential replacements are former pilots Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger and Lee Moak.
Sullenberger, the current U.S. representative on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), rose to fame in 2009 when he safely landed the US Airways Airbus A320, Flight 1549, on New York's Hudson River after hitting a flock of geese - known as the "Miracle on the Hudson" flight. On that day, Capt. Sullenberger, saved the lives of 155 passengers were on board of the A320
Moak, a former president of the Air Line Pilots Association, is currently a member of the U.S. Postal Board of Governors.
The next head of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will face challenges overseeing Boeing and a series of reforms mandated by Congress in the wake of two fatal 737 MAX crashes.
Source: Reuters