Michael Whitaker of Vermont testifies throughout his nomination to be administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, Oct. 4, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Mariam Zuhaib/AP

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Mariam Zuhaib/AP

Michael Whitaker of Vermont testifies throughout his nomination to be administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, Oct. 4, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Mariam Zuhaib/AP

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted 98-0 to approve President Joe Biden’s nominee to steer the Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday, ending a span of almost 19 months by which the company was and not using a Senate-confirmed chief.

Michael Whitaker is a former deputy FAA administrator and most lately served as chief working officer of a Hyundai affiliate that’s growing an air taxi.

Whitaker will take over an company that faces many challenges, together with a surge in shut calls between planes at main airports, a scarcity of air site visitors controllers, and getting older expertise that resulted in a quick nationwide halt in flights in January.

Whitaker’s affirmation appeared assured final week, when members of the Senate Commerce Committee endorsed him unanimously.

On the Senate flooring Tuesday, committee chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., mentioned Whitaker’s priorities shall be to “build a strong safety culture, attract new talent and keep pace with technology transformation.”

Whitaker was Biden’s second alternative for the job. The nomination of Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington languished for months, then did not get out of the Commerce Committee due to opposition from Republicans and unbiased Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.

The FAA has been and not using a Senate-confirmed administrator since March 2022, when Stephen Dickson stepped down halfway by way of his five-year time period.