The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to convene on April 10 to scrutinize Jennifer Homendy’s reappointment as chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Nominated by President Joe Biden, Homendy’s tenure has been marked by significant transportation incidents, such as the Baltimore bridge collapse and an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 mid-air emergency.
Homendy, who has been part of the NTSB since 2018 and assumed the chair position in August 2021, brings valuable expertise, having previously served as a senior legislative staffer specializing in transportation.
One of the critical issues under Homendy’s leadership has been the investigation into Boeing’s practices regarding a door plug probe, where she criticized the company’s lack of cooperation.
She also advocated for enhanced aviation safety measures, including the installation of cockpit voice recorders capable of capturing 25 hours of data.
Homendy has emphasized the importance of implementing new safety protocols in the aftermath of transportation accidents, such as the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
She highlighted the NTSB’s responsibility to hold stakeholders accountable and prevent similar incidents from recurring.
Homendy’s concerns extend beyond aviation to include driver assistance systems’ safety, particularly Tesla Autopilot and emerging self-driving technologies.
She underscored the need for rigorous oversight by agencies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Homendy has urged proactive measures to avert potential disasters, emphasizing the significance of preemptive action before catastrophic events occur.
