Join ARSA Ask ARSA Pay ARSA

ARSA Remembers – John Hickey

John Hickey, former FAA deputy associate administrator for aviation safety, died after a long battle with cancer on April 19.

Hickey’s FAA career spanned three decades. After graduating from Boston University in 1980 and spending 10 years in private industry, he became a flight test engineer in the Transport Airplane Directorate, where he served in an ascending series of roles culminating as manager. He was then director of the Aircraft Certification Service from 2000 until he was selected by Peggy Gilligan in 2009 to serve as her deputy.

“Like many of the people I end up admiring, John and I started our relationship on a rocky note,” ARSA Executive Director Sarah MacLeod remembers. “He and I both were easy to rile and blunt; a combination that resulted in heated exchanges. As we became more familiar with each other and understood that we both held a strong passion for aviation and aviation safety, we become allies. His stamp on the industry will be felt for years.”

ARSA’s colleagues at JDA Aviation have posted a thorough review of Hickey’s career accomplishments, which can be reviewed at jdasolutions.aero/blog/requiem-in-pacem-john-hickey.

ARSA is seeking information about remembrance opportunities for Hickey and will keep its membership posted. Any readers who would like to share memories or personal experiences should contact the association.

The family has requested that donations be made in John’s honor to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Click here to make a memorial gift.



More from ARSA

Correct STC Oversight Problems

STC holders should take advantage of summertime opportunities to highlight FAA oversight issues to government auditors. Congress’ May 2024 reauthorization of the FAA, required the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector…Read More

Substitute Teaching

On May 30, ARSA Vice President of Operations Brett Levanto visited with three classes of sixth grade students at Bush Hill Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia. Levanto was making good…Read More

Mourning with a Colleague

On May 22, a Cessna Citation 550 crashed in San Diego, California. On May 25, the San Diego Medical Examiner confirmed that among the aircraft’s passengers was Kendall Fortner, the…Read More

AMT Day – Celebrate Charlie

Charles Taylor, the Wright Brothers’ mechanic and father of aviation maintenance, was born on May 24, 1868. Now – 157 years later – we celebrate him through continued commitment to…Read More

A Future Better than Yachting in the Caribbean – 2025 Scholarship Winner Daniel Lucerne

Meet ARSA’s 2025 Scholarship winner Daniel “Danny” Lucerne of the Atlanta campus of Aviation Institute of Maintenance. Lucerne’s interest in aviation was stoked while yachting (as crew) in the Caribbean.…Read More
ARSA