
WASHINGTON, June 24 (Reuters) - Senior Democrats on the Senate committee overseeing aviation said Tuesday they will oppose the nomination of Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford to head the Federal Aviation Administration.
Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Commerce Committee, and Senator Tammy Duckworth, who is the ranking member of the aviation subcommittee, said they will vote against Bedford's nomination when the committee votes Wednesday. Both cited Bedford's refusal to commit to uphold the 1,500-hour training rule for co-pilots.