President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration blasted the regulator’s risk-averse culture and a lack of strong leadership, saying those shortcomings have stymied efforts to modernize the U.S. air traffic control system.

“The root cause of FAA’s inability to complete its mission to modernize air traffic systems and effectively manage safety is the lack of strategic vision and competent leadership,” Bryan Bedford, the nominee for FAA administrator, said in written responses to a Senate Commerce Committee questionnaire ahead of his confirmation hearing. 

“Unless the root causes are addressed, the results will continue to be the same,” the chief executive officer of regional airline Republic Airways Holdings Inc. said in the questionnaire, which was seen by Bloomberg News. He also said the FAA has become too cautious when it comes to taking risks that could spur innovation. 

That can’t be the attitude as the FAA prepares to carry out a plan to overhaul its aging air traffic system, Bedford said. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled a proposal in May that would make upgrades throughout the system. The House-passed version of Trump’s tax and spending plan includes $12.5 billion for the effort. The Senate Commerce Committee has proposed the same amount. Duffy has said tens of billions of dollars would be needed.

The Senate Commerce Committee will consider Bedford’s nomination for the top FAA post on June 11. If confirmed, Bedford will join the regulator at a critical time as it deals with the aftermath of January’s deadly midair collision near Washington, D.C., continued oversight of Boeing over quality lapses uncovered last year at its factories, and the ambitious plan to overhaul air traffic control. 

Bedford said in the Senate questionnaire that his “primary responsibility” will be executing the air traffic plan. He also said a new system will help the FAA incorporate new technologies such as drones and air taxis into the US airspace. 

Equity Stake, Undercover Boss

Bedford is an aviation industry veteran who has been with Republic for more than 25 years. Republic is one of the largest regional airlines, ferrying travelers from smaller cities to major hub airports for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.

Bedford said in the Senate questionnaire that his experience with reorganizations and managing complex organizations will position him for success at the FAA. 

If confirmed, he said he’ll still have a “small equity stake” in Republic Airways — an issue he said he’d address in the ethics agreement he’ll enter into with the government. 

In an addendum to the questionnaire, Bedford also disclosed a run-in with the FAA over an episode of the popular TV show Undercover Boss, which he appeared on in 2010. Republic Airways bought Frontier Airlines during its bankruptcy in 2009, then sold the carrier to Indigo Partners LLC in 2013. Prior to the sale, Bedford acted as CEO of the company. 

In the Undercover Boss episode, which featured Frontier, he posed as a flight attendant. That, according to Bedford, resulted in the carrier receiving a letter of investigation from the FAA — which signals the regulator is probing a possible violation of aviation regulations. The Wall Street Journal previously reported on the inquiry, which didn’t result in any penalties. 

Bedford said the agency asked about his role on the flight. “After Frontier clarified that I did not serve as a crew member on the flight, I understand the FAA dropped the matter.”