Washington Wire: Bush Taps Sturgell To Lead FAA

President George W. Bush late last month tapped Robert Sturgell, a former pilot for United Airlines, to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, succeeding Marion Blakey, who left the agency in September after her five-year term ended. Sturgell, who was also a U.S. Navy aviator, was Blakey's deputy since 2003. "Bobby has worked tirelessly to modernize our nation's air-traffic control system,'' White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters upon announcing the nomination last month. The Senate must confirm the nomination. Sturgell will take the helm of an agency that's trying to restructure aviation taxes, placate the air traffic controllers union over pay, and reduce congestion at the nation's busiest airports, most urgently in New York.

FAA is about to spend as much as $22 billion by 2025 on equipment upgrades, and Sturgell will continue to press Congress to shift aviation taxes from commercial aircraft onto users of small planes. "His distinguished and varied background, in both civil and military matters, uniquely equip him to serve as FAA administrator,'' James May, president of the Air Transport Association trade group, said in a statement.

His nomination drew immediate opposition from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, which said FAA isn't doing enough to retain experienced controllers. "We oppose it because America's aviation system is experiencing record delays and an unprecedented degradation of safety margins, exacerbated by the largest decline in the number of experienced air traffic controllers since 1981," NATCA President Patrick Forrey said in a statement. Sturgell used to fly Boeing 757s and 767s for United and also flew F-18 fighter jets for the Navy. He was a senior policy adviser for the National Transportation Safety Board.