In the wake of revelations that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allowed aircraft manufacturer Boeing to handle the safety analysis for its airliners – revelations that followed two fatal crashes of Boeing’s 737 MAX -  the U.S. Department of Transportation is firming up its new Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Committee (SOCAC).

The SOCAC was created by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. The committee will provide advice to the Secretary of Transportation regarding issues facing the aviation community related to FAA safety oversight and certification programs. These include aircraft and flight standards certification processes, oversight of safety management systems, risk-based oversight efforts, and utilization of delegation and designation authorities.

DOT Secretary Elaine L. Chao last week announced the appointment of 22 members to the SOCAC.

The SOCAC consists of twenty voting members representing stakeholders across the aviation field and two non-voting FAA members. Members are appointed to 2-year terms. The FAA Administrator will also serve on the committee as a voting member.

After the 737 MAX crashes – which killed 346 people – the FAA was sharply criticized for its policy of delegating certification reviews to manufacturers.

The following individuals are being appointed as voting members to the SOCAC:

• Chairperson: William Ayer, Board of Directors Member, National Business Aviation Association
• Jason Dickstein, President, Modification and Replacement Parts Association
• Daniel Eigenbrode, Vice President, Pratt and Whitney's Engine Development Programs
• Eric Fanning, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aerospace Industries Association
• Chris Jackman, Certification Program Manager, Wing Aviation LLC
• Paul La Pietra, Senior Engineering Director and ODA Lead Administrator, Honeywell Aerospace
• John Laughter, Senior Vice President, Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance, Delta Air Lines, Inc
• Shelly Lesikar deZevallos, President, West Houston Airport Corporation
• Sarah MacLeod, Executive Director, Aeronautical Repair Station Association
• Colin Miller, Senior Vice President. Innovation, Engineering and Flight, Gulfstream Aerospace
• Bradley Mottier, Vice President and General Manager, GE Aviation
• Timothy Obitts, Chief Operating Office and General Counsel, National Air Transportation Association
• Beth Pasztor, Vice President, Safety, Security and Compliance, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
• Michael Perrone, National President, Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO
• Michael Quiello, Vice President, Corporate Safety, United Airlines
• Gregory Shoemaker, Policy Counsel, National Air Traffic Controllers Association
• Alan Stolzer, Dean, College of Aviation. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Phillip Straub, Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Aviation Division. Garmin International, Inc.
• Michael Thacker, Executive Vice President, Technology and Innovation. Bell/Textron Aviation
• Matthew Zuccaro, President and Chief Executive Officer, Helicopter Association International 

The following individuals are being appointed as non-voting members to the SOCAC:

• Bob Busto, Manager, Central Manufacturing Inspection Office Branch, Aircraft Certification Service, FAA
• Robert Duffer, Senior Technical Liaison, Flight Standards Service, Office of Safely Standards, FAA