Biden nominee to head FAA withdraws candidacy

US President Joe Biden’s pick to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has pulled out of the nomination process due to what governing Democrat Party representatives said were partisan attacks by Republican senators. Transport secretary Pete Buttigieg said the nomination of Phil Washington to head the FAA faced “partisan attacks and procedural obstruction”, though some in the Democrat Party had also expressed reservations about Washington’s alleged lack of industry experience. Ex-military man Washington is chief executive of Denver International Airport. The leadership of the FAA is being held on a acting basis by ex-pilot and American Airlines exec Billy Nolen,