US Senate votes to confirm Republic CEO to head Federal Aviation Administration

July 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Wednesday voted 53 to 43 approve Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford to head the Federal Aviation Administration.

Bedford, the head of the regional air carrier nominated by President Donald Trump and approved for a five-year-term, will oversee $12.5 billion in funding over five years to remake the aging U.S. air traffic control system passed by Congress last week. Bedford has also pledged to maintain tough oversight of Boeing BA.N, which came under harsh criticism from the National Transportation Safety Board last month for a mid-air emergency involving a new Alaska Airlines ALK.N 737 MAX 9 missing four key bolts.