History of the federal aviation administration essay

The Federal Aviation Administration has had a long and ever changing history. With the passing of the Commerce Act pass in 1926, issues involving air traffic rules, pilots, certifications, airways, and navigation were all answered. This new aeronautics branch was established in the Department of Commerce and directed by William P. McCracken Jr. In 1934 this branch was renamed the Aeronautics Branch to the Bureau of Air Commerce to show growing importance of the nation’s aviation system. The Civil Aeronautics Act transferred responsibilities in 1938. The Commerce Department became a new independent agency, the Civil Aeronautics Act.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt spilt the authority in 1940; it consisted of the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) and the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). The CAA handled Air Traffic Control, Airman/Aircraft Certification, Safety Enforcement and Airway Development. The CAB handled Safety Regulations, Accident Investigation, and Economic Regulations of Airlines. With the era of jet travel and mid-air collisions numbers spiking, the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 was signed. With this new act, The Federal Aviation Agency was solely responsible for a common civil military system with Elwood R.

Quesada as the first Administrator. In 1967, the new U. S. Department of Transportation combined major responsibilities. The Federal Aviation Agency changed to the Federal Aviation Administration. With terrorism rising during the late 1900s and early 2000s, more hands on approaches came to the FAA, even creating the Department of Homeland Security which now handles all safety matters for the country. The FAA over the years has substantially evolved into a dominating Federal force. They now control almost every aspect of Federal aviation matters.