Definition
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a senior executive appointed by the President of the United States with the consent of the Senate. The Administrator is responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation in the U.S., including airman certification, aircraft certification, air traffic control, and aviation safety. Many regulatory authorities written into the Federal Aviation Regulations are formally vested in the Administrator, who delegates them to FAA staff and designees.
Plain English
The top official in charge of the FAA. When the regulations say something must be approved by 'the Administrator,' they mean the FAA itself, acting through this person or someone they have authorized.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA handbooks, regulations, and testing material when explaining who has legal authority over pilot certification and pilot examiners.
Derivation
From Latin 'administrare,' meaning 'to manage' or 'to direct.' In aviation, the Administrator is literally the person who directs the FAA — the chief manager of the agency.
Why Pilots Care
Decisions made by the Administrator shape certification standards, training requirements, and safety policies that every pilot must follow.
Intuition Check
Do not read Administrator as a general office administrator or local school official. In this context, it means the top FAA official whose legal authority is being used or delegated.
Example Sentence 1
The Designated Pilot Examiner conducts the practical test under authority delegated by the Administrator.
Example Sentence 2
Pilot examiners receive their designation through authority delegated by the FAA Administrator.