WASHINGTON, June 24 (Reuters) - Senior Democrats on the

Senate committee overseeing aviation said Tuesday they will

oppose the nomination of Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford to

head the Federal Aviation Administration.

Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Commerce

Committee, and Senator Tammy Duckworth, who is the ranking

member of the aviation subcommittee, said they will vote against

Bedford's nomination when the committee votes Wednesday. Both

cited Bedford's refusal to commit to uphold the 1,500-hour

training rule for co-pilots.