FAA Administrator Resigns

Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2022 online issue.

Steve Dickson

WASHINGTON, DC – Steve Dickson, who was nominated in August 2019 by President Donald Trump to be the FAA Administrator for a five-year term, stepped down March 31, 2022. A replacement has not yet been named.

Issues which Dickson faced during his tenure have included the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the air transportation industry, a slow-down/then resurgence in commercial air travel, having to deal with disruptive airline passengers and establishing a “zero-tolerance” policy, and in recent months, working with general aviation groups in seeking a lead-free replacement for 100LL avgas.

Dickson also oversaw the return of the Boeing 737 Max jet to service following two fatal crashes abroad, which grounded the aircraft worldwide until an acceptable fix could be made. Before his appointment, Dickson was a pilot and the Senior Vice President of Flight Operations with Delta Air Lines. In 2020, he flew the Boeing 737 Max jet himself on test flights before it was returned to passenger service. Dickson started his flying career as an officer in the U.S. Air Force flying F-15 fighters and graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1979.