WASHINGTON, DC, March 30, 2009 – The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) issued the following statement upon President Obama’s nomination of Randy Babbitt as the next Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator:

“We are extremely pleased that the White House has moved forward with Randy Babbitt as the nominee for the next FAA Administrator,” said Pete Bunce, GAMA’s president and CEO. “Randy’s knowledge and experience in the aviation industry is crucial at this time, especially as our nation faces the critical challenge of modernizing our nation’s air transportation system.“

Babbitt is a partner in the aviation consultancy of Oliver Wyman. He began his aviation career as a pilot for Eastern Airlines and then served as president and CEO for the Air Line Pilots Association. In 2008, Babbitt was named by the Secretary of Transportation to a team of aviation and safety experts tasked with creating recommendations to improve the FAA’s implementation of the aviation safety system.