Surprising as to timing, on first impression.
But with the FAA finally getting a Senate-confirmed Administrator in office, and with the legislation to reauthorize the FAA still unfinished, it isn't quite as surprising. The questions around aviator mental health do hold some relevance to issues in the reauthorization bill, including means to address the pilot shortage (the 1500-hour rule, and mandatory retirement age).
So also not surprising that the Aviation Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee today held a hearing - with a pretty all-star list of witnesses - on recent instances of "close calls" (which is tied also to pending reauthorization, and shortage of controllers). Worth noting that the Subcommittee is chaired by former U.S. Army Aviator Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D. - Illinois). Here's the description of the hearing from the Committee webpage (which also has a link to a recording of the hearing).
"U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation, will convene a subcommittee hearing titled “Addressing Close Calls to Improve Aviation Safety” on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 10:00 AM EST. This hearing will examine serious close calls across the National Airspace System and related efforts to improve the U.S. aviation system's safety culture, processes and technologies.
Witnesses:- Jennifer Homendy, Chair, National Transportation Safety Board
- Tim Arel, Chief Operating Officer, Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Organization
- Rich Santa, President, National Air Traffic Controller Association
- Capt. Jason Ambrosi, President, Air Line Pilots Association
- Randy Babbitt, Principal Partner, Babbitt & Associates, LLC"
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