Bryan Bedford

Built World

Overseeing the E-IDS deployment

On Nov. 5, the Federal Aviation Administration said it will replace four systems dating to the 1980s with a digital display board at 435 sites by the end of 2028. Controllers at more than 400 facilities still load weather alerts and flight data from floppy disks.

Updated 5 days ago

Rule Changes

Led the FAA during the Max 10 certification

The Federal Aviation Administration certified Boeing's 737 Max 10 on October 20, 2026, clearing the largest Max for passenger service. The jet seats up to 230 people and, Boeing says, uses 20% less fuel than older single-aisle aircraft.

Updated Nov 3

Rule Changes

Led FAA negotiating team; previously withheld pay hike pending reforms

Thousands of federal air traffic controllers received a 2.8% pay raise on October 18, retroactive to January 1. In exchange, they badge in and out of their facilities, a time-tracking change the FAA says gives managers better data.

Updated Oct 17

Built World

As of October 2026: Oversees FAA infrastructure funding programs

The Federal Aviation Administration has committed $90 million to build Concourse B at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the largest award in the five-year history of its Airport Terminal Program. The money funds phase two of the 860,810-square-foot midfield concourse, which will add 26 gates to an airport that has run over capacity for years.

Updated Oct 10

New Capabilities

As of September 2026: Overseeing SMART deployment

Air traffic controllers at three Washington-area airports started using an artificial-intelligence tool Monday that predicts where congestion will form before delays hit. The system, called SMART for Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories, analyzes weather at flying altitudes, airline schedules, and live flight paths in real time.

Updated Sep 21

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Implementing safety reforms and responding to NTSB recommendations

The National Transportation Safety Board concluded its investigation into the January 2025 collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River—the deadliest U.S. aviation accident since 2001. All 67 people aboard both aircraft died, including 28 members of the figure skating community returning from a national development camp. The NTSB found the crash was '100% preventable' and issued 50 safety recommendations, with 32 directed at the Federal Aviation Administration.

Updated May 23

Built World

As of May 2026: In office since July 2025; driving a compressed ATC rebuild plan

The FAA is no longer talking about “modernization” like it’s a distant science project. In a House hearing, Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency will commit $6 billion by the end of 2025 to upgrade ATC telecom networks and radar surveillance, with a target deployment date of 2028.

Updated May 15