Sen. Conrad and FAA administrator visit UND Aerospace Sen. Kent Conrad and Nicholas Sabatini, associate administrator for aviation safety, will tour the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences Tuesday, Aug. 22. The University is seeking a partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the state and the Odegard School. Sabatini became associate administrator for aviation safety of the FAA in 2001. He is responsible for certification, production approval and continued airworthiness of aircraft, and the certification of pilots, mechanics and others in safety-related positions. He is also responsible for certification of all operational and maintenance enterprises in domestic civil aviation; development of regulations; civil flight operations; and the certification and safety oversight of some 7,300 U.S. commercial airlines and air operators. Sabatini oversees a work force of approximately 6,300 employees in the FAA's Washington headquarters, nine regional offices and more than 125 field offices throughout the world.