In 1958, Congress enacted the Federal Aviation Act, which would eventually become the organization known as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA, 2017). The FAA's mission is "provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world" (FAA, 2019). The creation of the FAA was arguably the most important safety measure taken for United States aviation and progress.
Before the creation of the FAA, aviation was disorganized, especially in its early years. In 1926 the Air Commerce Act was passed (FAA, 2017). These early years did its best to regulate and provide safer measures for aircraft. Technology and progress allowed us to commercialize air travel and also for courier transportation. More and more aircraft were taking to the skies without any rules or regulations. Soon after, rudimentary air traffic control was developed. A more organized sky was on the horizon. Over the next generation these measures would come together to form what the FAA encompasses today.
Today, the FAA is no less than critical to maintaining safe aviation in the United States. Its many functions include flight safety regulations, air traffic regulations, pilot licensing, medical research, training, publications, and developing the airspace system (Federal Aviation Act, 1958). It hosts a vast number of research and initiatives designed to provide a safer airspace system for those operating in it. Without the FAA, we would have a disorganized airspace with fewer regulations for pilots and air traffic controllers. Maintaining these regulations, and growing with aviation technology allows us to remain on the forefront of aviation safety. The FAA is the centralized resource for all of these matters.
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References
Federal Aviation Act of 1958, Public Law 85-726; 72 Stat. 737 49 U.S.C. App. 1301 et seq. (1958). http://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/books-online/Aviationlawpt1.pdf
Federal Aviation Administration. (2017, January 4). A Brief History of the FAA. Federal Aviation Administration. https://www.faa.gov/about/history/brief_history/#birth
Federal Aviation Administration. (2019, November 5). FAA Mission. Department of Transportation. https://www.faa.gov/about/mission/
I find the second photo you included I find interesting. I know exactly where that building is (Independence Avenue), and I drive past it about once every two weeks. I knew it was a federal building because it says “Federal Building” on its side, but I never knew it was the FAA. I will have to keep my eye out for that sign next time I drive by.
ReplyDeleteI think the history before the FAA is fascinating because, without it, FAA and NTSB might still be one authority to investigate and write regulations. The Civil Aeronautics Act in 1938 created the Civil Aeronautics Authority, which was responsible for investigations and regulations. In 1940, the CAA split its responsibilities with a new organization named the CAB. CAA would be accountable for people and enforcement, and the CAB would become responsible for investigations and regulations (Federal Aviation Administration, n.d.).
Having these as separate organizations would set the groundwork for the NTSB having primary investigation jurisdiction. During its investigations, it often must investigate the responsibility that the right DOT agency may have had in causing the accident (The National Transportation Safety Board, n.d.). I find it interesting when the DOT was created, and they were absorbed into the new department, they changed their name from “Agency” to “Administration”.
References
Federal Aviation Administration. (n.d.). A Brief History of the FAA. Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/about/history/brief_history/
The National Transportation Safety Board. (n.d.). What is the National Transportation Safety Board? Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/documents/whatisntsb0091710.pdf