Bedford Falsely Claimed to Hold a Commercial Pilot Certificate

Bryan Bedford, President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration, has claimed for years in his official biography that he holds a commercial pilot rating… Now, FAA records have revealed otherwise.

Language describing Bedford as a commercial-rated pilot has appeared on Republic Airways’ website since at least 2010, according to archives. At a 2019 event at Liberty University, he was introduced, without correction, as holding “commercial, multi-engine and instrument” ratings. He also described earning all of those during a union dispute, saying he was flying some of the company’s turbine aircraft by the time negotiations resumed.

Until June 2025, Bedford’s Republic Airways executive profile stated he held “commercial, multi-engine and instrument ratings.” The “commercial” part disappeared from the bio only after curious minds inquired about the accuracy of the credential. FAA records confirm that Bedford is a licensed private pilot with an instrument add-on, but no commercial certificate is shown.

The Department of Transportation backed Bedford, stating he had passed the written exam required for a commercial license and noting that he never claimed to be a “commercial airline pilot.” It called the biography language an “administrative error” that was corrected swiftly. They did not explain how the error occurred or why it remained uncorrected for over a decade.

While Bedford is licensed to fly single- and multi-engine aircraft under instrument flight rules, a commercial certificate would legally allow him to fly for hire. Earning this certification requires completing hundreds of flight hours as well as passing written, oral, and flight evaluations.

Despite the discrepancy, Bedford’s nomination appears on track. He received praise from both Republican senators and the White House during his confirmation hearing. The other primary criticism targeted at Bedford is that he previously suggested cutting pilot training hour requirements in half for graduates of Republic’s LIFT Academy. Whether these drawbacks outweigh his undeniably extensive industry experience remains, well, in the air.

FMI: www.transportation.gov