On Thursday, the Senate unanimously confirmed Christopher Hart as chairman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. The 97-0 approval was the only vote taken by the Senate that day and comes a month after the White House reissued the nomination of Hart for a two-year term as chairman. The White House had initially nominated Hart to the post last year, but the Senate failed to act on it before the 113th Congress adjourned.

Hart, a general aviation pilot, had served as vice chairman of the NTSB since 2009 and acting chairman since Deborah Hersman left the NTSB in April.

The nomination received resounding industry backing. "Hart’s training and personal experience will be critical to advancing aviation safety initiatives such as supporting pilot professionalism in training, promoting proactive safety information reporting programs and ensuring that automation continues to improve safety,” said NATA president and CEO Tom Hendricks. NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen agreed, saying Hart’s general aviation background gives him “unique insight that we are certain will benefit the business aviation community.”