Senate confirms new FAA chief

The Senate Wednesday unanimously confirmed Marion Blakey, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, as chief of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Blakey will succeed Jane Garvey, whose five-year term expired in August. In a statement, Blakey said she was honored. She added, "The aviation industry is facing significant challenges on many fronts, and I look forward to joining the FAA without delay."

Earlier this month, Blakey told a Senate panel considering her appointment that she would be responsive to inquiries. She also promised to begin aggressively hiring and training air traffic controllers to compensate for the expected retirements of as many as 5,000 by 2006.

Blakey, 54, is a former assistant transportation secretary for public affairs and has run her own public relations firm. She must first be sworn in by Bush before she takes the job.