Trump's FAA Nominee Faces Scrutiny Over Pilot Licence Claims

The Chief Executive of Republic Airways, Bryan Bedford has admitted that he lacks commercial pilot certification despite years of publicly claiming the opposite. The revelation puts Bedford’s future in question as he attempts to secure the top job at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

CEO and President of Republic Airways Bryan Bedford adjusting his name place as he prepares to testify during his nomination hearing

By way of background, Bedford is US President Donald Trump’s pick to head the FAA and is currently undergoing a long-winded legislative process to be appointed.

Before Bedford begins the process of assuming leadership of the FAA, he must first:

• Appear before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee for a confirmation hearing. This committee oversees the FAA and will thoroughly question Bedford on his qualifications and vision for the agency – this has now taken place.  

  
  

• Succeed in a committee vote following the hearing on whether to advance Bedford’s nomination to the full Senate – the vote will take place on 25 June.

  
  

• Receive a simple majority in a full Senate vote – this will happen after the committee vote.

Once he has gone through all these legislative hoops, Bedford will be sworn in as the new FAA Administrator, typically in a ceremony attended by the Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy.

Bedford's nomination was generating controversy even before the commercial pilot license revelation. His push to reduce commercial pilot training hours has drawn fierce opposition, particularly in light of the recent spate of high-profile aviation incidents including the Washington DC and Air India plane crashes.

The timing couldn't be worse for someone advocating for less rigorous pilot training while simultaneously facing questions about his own incomplete certification process.

Years of false claims

On Republic Airways website, Bedford's official biography stated that he held “commercial multi-engine and instrumental ratings.” In layman terms, this means he is able to operate a plane with two or more engines. However, an investigation by POLITICO revealed that he did not have this licence, resulting in a swift removal of the sentence on Republic Airway’s website.

Beyond just being a written discrepancy, Bedford had also verbally claimed to possess commercial pilot credentials such as when addressing students about aviation careers in a 2019 speech at Liberty University. The assertion has never been contested until Bedford decided to put himself forward for the FAA role and therefore face public and legislative scrutiny.

FAA records reveal that Bedford only has a private pilot licence despite claiming to have a commercial licence

"Administrative oversight"

In his responses to the Senate Commerce Committee, Bedford explained that whilst he had completed the written and oral examinations required for a commercial licence, he never finished the final practical test known as a "check ride" due to adverse weather conditions.

"It is true I fully completed all my commercial flight training, including the FAA written exam and FAA oral exam," Bedford wrote. "However, due to weather, I was unable to complete my FAA check ride before switching jobs and therefore did not formally obtain my commercial flight license."

The DOT has defended Bedford's nomination, with a spokesperson describing the issue as an "administrative oversight" and dismissing criticism as "desperate smears from the fake news media".

Bedford does hold a private pilot's licence with additional certifications for multi-engine aircraft and instrument flying - qualifications that allow him to pilot aircraft in conditions requiring instruments rather than visual navigation.

Bedford at the nomination hearing on June 11

Consequences?

The aviation industry hasn't abandoned Bedford. Transportation Committee Chairman Sam Graves continues to champion him as "a great choice to lead the FAA," praising his "decades of first-hand experience in the aviation industry."

Major industry groups are also standing by their man. Nicholas E. Calio, President and CEO of Airlines for America, called Bedford's nomination "superb," highlighting his "decades of experience in aviation operations" and commitment to safety.

The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International has similarly endorsed Bedford, emphasizing his potential to modernize regulations and enhance safety alongside Deputy FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

As the Senate prepares for its final vote, Bedford's nomination appears unharmed despite the licensing controversy. Republican support remains solid, industry endorsements continue, and the administration is framing the issue as a minor administrative matter rather than a character concern.

Whether voters and aviation professionals see it the same way remains to be seen. In an industry where the difference between "almost certified" and "certified" can literally be a matter of life and death, Bedford's explanation may need to be more convincing than "the weather didn't cooperate."

The Senate vote on Bedford's nomination is expected on 25 June.