The Senate Commerce Committee approved the nomination today for Christopher Hart to serve as chairman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. This approval clears the nomination for full consideration by the Senate. The White House reissued the nomination of Hart for a two-year term as chairman earlier this month.  It had nominated Hart to the post last year, but the Senate failed to act on it before the 113th Congress adjourned. Hart first served on the Safety Board as a member from 1990 to 1993 and rejoined in 2009. He had been vice chairman since 2009 and acting chairman since Deborah Hersman left the NTSB in April.

NATA president and CEO Tom Hendricks praised the Senate Commerce action, noting Hart “is an active general aviation pilot who is an industry leader on emerging aviation safety issues.” Hendricks added that he hopes the full Senate moves quickly to approve the nomination.