White House nominee to lead the FAA glides through a Senate committee vote

Michael Whitaker, nominee to be the next administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, testifies during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing on Capitol Hill October 4, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — It's been more than 18 months since the Federal Aviation Administration has had a Senate-confirmed leader at the controls.

Michael Whitaker, the White House's pick to head the agency, took a crucial step toward changing that on Wednesday.