WASHINGTON, March 12 (Reuters) - Republic Airways CEO

Bryan Bedford is the leading candidate to be nominated by

President Donald Trump to serve as the next head of the Federal

Aviation Administration, sources told Reuters.

The White House, Bedford and Republic did not immediately

respond to requests for comment. Bedford interviewed for the

position that requires Senate confirmation in recent weeks, the

sources added.

Bedford, a pilot and industry veteran of more than 30 years,

previously headed two other carriers and oversaw a significant

expansion of Republic Airways.

Indiana-based Republic is one of the biggest regional

airlines in North America, operating a fleet of more than 200

Embraer aircraft with 900 daily flights in the United States and

Canada. The flights operate under airline partner brands

American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express

.

The FAA position has been vacant since January 20, when FAA

Administrator Mike Whitaker stepped down a little more than one

year into a five-year term when Trump took office. The FAA has

been run on an interim basis by Deputy Administrator Chris

Rocheleau.

On January 29, a mid-air collision between an American

Airlines ( AAL ) regional jet and Army Black Hawk helicopter near

Washington Reagan National Airport killed 67 people, raising

serious questions about aviation safety.

Other recent incidents include fatal crashes of small planes

in Alaska and Philadelphia, the crash of a regional Delta jet

that flipped upside down upon landing in Toronto and a near miss

at Chicago Midway involving a Southwest Airlines ( LUV ) jet.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday he plans to

ask Congress for tens of billions of dollars to overhaul the

nation's aging air traffic control system and has taken steps to

boost staffing. The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers

short of targeted staffing levels and in many places controllers

are working six days a week with mandatory overtime.

On Tuesday, the FAA said it plans to permanently restrict

helicopters near Reagan National after the collision and is

reviewing helicopter traffic near other major airports.