Training and Safety

Aviation safety expert tapped for NTSB

By Sarah Brown

President Barack Obama announced June 24 that he will nominate veteran pilot and aviation safety expert Christopher A. Hart to be a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Hart, who previously served on the board from 1990 to 1993, has been working at the FAA since 1995 to create processes to help identify and address potential safety issues before they cause mishaps.

“We are delighted that Chris Hart will once again be serving on the board,” said Bruce Landsberg, president of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. “We’ve worked with Chris over the years, both at FAA and NTSB, and his experience will be a great asset to the cause of aviation safety.”

His internationally recognized expertise has helped other industries learn from the success of aviation safety processes to improve their risk management and safety, according to a White House press release. An attorney, Hart also has two degrees in aerospace engineering and is an experienced pilot with a commercial certificate and multi-engine and instrument ratings. He has served as Deputy Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Deputy Assistant General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Transportation, attorney with the Air Transport Association of America, and managing partner of Hart, Carroll & Chavers, a Washington, D.C., law firm.

June 30, 2009