WASHINGTON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect

Donald Trump's nominee to head the Transportation Department

said the next administration plans to ensure planemaker Boeing ( BA )

is producing safe airplanes.

Former Wisconsin Representative Sean Duffy told Reuters in a

brief interview he wants to make sure the Federal Aviation

Administration has enough air traffic controllers and "that we

have safe planes coming out of Boeing ( BA )." FAA Administrator Mike

Whitaker earlier Thursday he plans to step down on Jan. 20 when

Trump takes office. Duffy said Trump will nominate a new FAA

administrator "who is strong and capable and ready to roll" and

he added there would be a deputy in place on Jan. 20 to oversee

the agency.