Billy Nolen
Acting Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration
Billy Nolen earned an undergraduate degree in aviation management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He has certificates in aviation safety from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, U.S. Army Safety Center, and the University of Southern California.
Nolen served over 33 years in operations and corporate safety, regulatory affairs, and flight operations. He started his career as a 767, 757, and MD-80 pilot with American Airlines. His passion for safety and operations led him to the role of Management of Pilot Aviation Safety Program. He later became manager of Flight Safety.
After American Airlines, Nolen served as Senior Vice President of Safety, Security, and Operations with Airlines of America. He later was Executive Manager of Group Safety and Health for the Qantas Group. He was Vice President of Safety, Security, and Quality at LearJet in Calgary, Alberta, before coming to the FAA.
He served as the Federal Aviation Administration’s Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety before being appointed Acting FAA Administrator by President Biden in April 2022.
In the News…
Republic Airways, which flies short routes for Delta, American, and United, proposed regulation changes in April that would allow pilots to join an airline after 750 hours of flight time once they have completed the carrier’s training program, effectively cutting the FAA requirements by half.
This week, the Federal Aviation Administration said that it has rejected the proposal to become a co-pilot, even though there is a severe shortage of aviators who want to do the short routes.
Normally, 1,500 hours of flight time are required before a new pilot can fly commercially, though there is an exception for certain military experience that cuts this requirement in half.
“The FAA considers it to be of greater public interest to ensure and maintain the level of safety provided by the foundation of an integrated aviation education required by” current criteria, the agency stated. The decision was released a day ahead of a regional airline conference in Washington, D.C
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Acting Administrator Nolen today? You can let him know at:
The Honorable Billy Nolen
Acting Administrator
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20591
