The U.S. Senate voted 53–43 on Wednesday to confirm former Republic Airways Chief Executive Officer Bryan Bedford as administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration for a five-year term, endorsing President Donald Trump’s nominee despite Democratic opposition. Bedford, 63, stepped down last week from the regional carrier he ran for more than 25 years. He will take charge of the agency at a volatile moment for U.S. aviation, following a January mid-air collision near Washington that killed 67 people and a series of near misses that have heightened scrutiny of air-traffic control. Congress last week approved $12.5 billion for a wholesale modernization of the system, a project Bedford has pledged to accelerate in coordination with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Republican lawmakers and industry groups praised Bedford’s operational experience and his promise to keep strict oversight of Boeing after recent 737 MAX safety lapses. Democrats and several pilot unions opposed the nomination, citing Bedford’s refusal to commit to maintaining the 1,500-hour flight-training requirement enacted after the 2009 Colgan Air crash. Acting FAA chief Chris Rocheleau is expected to become deputy administrator once Bedford is sworn in. Immediate decisions awaiting the new administrator include whether to lift the production cap on Boeing’s 737 MAX line, finalizing new helicopter-flight restrictions around Reagan National Airport and implementing the first tranche of the air-traffic control upgrade.