Industry Looks Back on BusyTenure Marked by 737 Max, Pandemic, and 5G Fixes

By now, the resignation of FAA administrator Steve Dickson has made its way throughout the industry, allowing stakeholders and groups to issue their well wishes and thanks for his time in service. 

A common through line in their statements is the level of integration and outreach he performed in multiple areas of the aeronautical space. From general and sport to business and commercial aviation, Dickson seemed to have touched on multiple needs around the country. He made an appearance at EAA AirVenture in 2021 to go over the progress on the FAA's MOSAIC initiative to update the regulations surrounding light-sport and homebuilts. 

The National Air Transportation Association touched on the rapid difficulties seen in his tenure, hit in rapid succession: "Both the industry and the agency benefitted from his steady leadership during some of the most difficult situations facing aviation—overseeing certification reform following the 737 Max crashes and the process to safely integrate 5G into the NAS—throughout the most challenging pandemic times." 

Dickson's work on the Max issue was highlighted by the NBAA, who noted that Dickson's F-15 experience allowed him get in the captain's seat to gauge the 737 Max with is own eyes. "As part of the agency’s approval for the airplane to return to service, Dickson personally flew the MAX to demonstrate its safety. His tenure has been defined by a drive to continually enhance the FAA’s safety culture."

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants also gave their thanks for Dickson's work in putting the Zero Tolerance Policy into place to increase the crackdown on disruptive and unruly passengers in flight. Looking forward, they believe that his good work will continue under his interim replacement, saying "We know that current Deputy Administrator Brad Mims will continue to implement proactive measures and coordinate with the DOJ to strengthen consequences of misbehavior. We look forward to strong FAA leadership in all aspects of aviation safety in the coming months."

FMI: www.faa.gov