NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy Promises Rigorous Safety Advocacy in Her Next Term

Jennifer Homendy, the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), is set to affirm her commitment to transportation safety in her next term, during the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Wednesday. Homendy, nominated by President Joe Biden to continue leading the NTSB, has been an active figure in the investigation of transportation accidents across various sectors, including air, rail, marine, pipeline, and highway.

In her prepared testimony, Homendy pledges to be a “fierce advocate” for enforcing safety recommendations and overseeing federal agencies. She reflects on her experiences as the on-scene board member at critical incidents like the recent Baltimore bridge collapse and the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 door panel incident, emphasizing the personal drive behind her dedication to improving safety measures.

Under Homendy’s leadership since August 2021, the NTSB has significantly expanded its team, hiring 71 new staff members in 2023 compared to only seven in 2017, addressing an annual caseload that includes 2,200 domestic and 450 foreign cases. She has been particularly vocal about the need for cooperation from companies like Boeing, which she criticized for initial non-compliance in investigations, such as the Boeing 737 door plug probe.

Homendy’s agenda also includes advocating for modern safety technologies in aviation, pushing for retrofitting aircraft with cockpit voice recorders that capture 25 hours of data, up from the current two-hour standard. This change aims to enhance investigative capabilities and prevent future accidents.

Her tenure has also seen a strong focus on rail and automotive safety, with a call for new safety regulations following a Norfolk Southern train derailment in Ohio and critical oversight of driver assistance systems, such as Tesla’s Autopilot.

As the hearing approaches, Homendy’s reappointment appears pivotal for the NTSB’s continued push towards stringent safety enforcement and oversight, ensuring that transportation systems across the board adopt the latest and most effective safety protocols.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, reuters.com