The aviation industry in the United States is regulated by the United States Department of Transport through the Federal Aviation Administration. The federal aviation administration mandate is to administer all aspects of air transport in the United States. It was established in 1958 and is responsible for regulation commercial air transport, flight standards, development of aviation and aeronautic technology, issuing and suspending pilot certificates, promoting safety in air transport and controlling air transport. However, the aviation regulation has undergone various changes over the years.
Aviation Regulation History
Powered flight was first attempted by Orville Wright and his brother Wilber in 1903. The 12 seconds flight inspired the development of the modern aviation transport. Efforts to develop flying machines were launched all over the world and thus major aviation technological development took place in the first decades of the 20th century. Planes were used during the First World War which proved to be a necessary military tool. Airmails services also triggered the development of commercial planes. However, despite the limited technology in the first quarter of the 20th century, flying was very dangerous. Flight conditions were poor due to lack of navigation devices, magnetic compasses were the only devices used by pilots. Pilots were forced to fly low, less than 500 feet, and fatal accidents were common. The first act related to aviation industry was the Air Mail Act which was enacted in 1925. The act led to the creation of commercially oriented airline industry and some airline companies such as Ford Air Transport Services and Pan American Airways were established (FAA, 2010).
The number of flights increased tremendously towards the end of the first half of the 20th century which necessitated the need for better aviation regulations. The enactment of the Air Commerce Act in 1926 was the first attempt by the United States central government to regulate aviation industry. The act was based on the argument that air transport could not reach its commercial potential if the government did not have proper mechanisms to improve and regulate its security standards. The Secretary of Commerce was given the mandate to foster air commerce and development and enforcement of air transport standards, rules and regulation, certify air crafts and pilots. He was also mandated to establish and operate airways and navigation aids. This led to the establishment of Aeronautics Branch within the Department of Commerce. Certification of pilots and air crafts was the major concern of Department of Commerce. It operated the lighted airways which were formally operated by post office department. Radio communications in aviation improved where introduction of radio beacons was a major development in air navigation (Whitelegg, 2001).
Due to its importance, the Aeronautics Branch changed its name to Bureau of Air Commerce in 1934. As a result of increased demand for air transport, the Department of Commerce through the bureau promoted the establishment of air traffic control centers. The Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938 created Civil Aeronautics Authority which was an independent federal agency responsible for aviation regulation. This act increased the federal government authority in the control of air transport and the new authority was given powers to control fares and routes served by air lines. In 1940, President Roosevelt split the authority into Civil Aeronautics Board and Civil Aeronautics Administration. The Civil Aeronautics Administrations responsibilities were air traffic controls, certifying pilots and aircrafts, enforcing safety standards and development of airways. The Civil Aeronautics Board on the other had regulated safety standards, economics of airlines and was responsible for investigation of air accidents. While CAA was under the department of commerce, CAB was an autonomous government agency.
When the United States entered the Second World War, CAA extended its air traffic controls and started controlling landings and takeoffs at all airports. The expanded responsibility continued and became permanent after the end of the war. The use of ladar in air traffic control after the war ensured that the authority was able to cope with the boom in the air transport. In 1946, CAA was given the responsibility of administering government programs in airports by the congress. The financial assistance programs were aimed at developing civil airport in the whole country.
The enactment of the Federal Aviation Act in 1958 was prompted by a series of air accidents which led to the creation of Federal Aviation Agency from the CAA. The act gave FAA the mandate of regulating air transport safety and it was to be responsible for both civil and military navigation systems and air traffic controls. The first head of FAA was a former general in the US Air Force and he had served in President Eisenhower government as his advisor. During the same years, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was established to spearhead research on Aeronautic and space exploration. This was prompted by the launch of the first space satellite by the Soviet Union (Sinha, 1999).
The creation of US Department of Transport, DOT in 1969 led to the merger of all federal transport authorities and the creation of Federal Aviation Administration which was one of the agencies under DOT. Federal aviation administration took over the mandate of Federal Aviation Agency while National Transport Safety Board took over the responsibilities of CAB. The responsibilities of Federal Aviation Administration have however expanded over the time. Increased cases of hijacking led to the involvement of Federal Aviation Administration in aviation security, a role that was assumed by the Department of Homeland Security following the 911 attack by terrorists. In 1968, the administration was given the powers to set noise pollution standards in airports. In the 1960s and 1970s, the FAA was involved in regulating other forms of flying such as the altitude of balloon flying. It also acquired better traffic control systems which were semi automated and used computer technology. The Airline Deregulation Act was also enacted in 1978 which overruled economic regulation of air transport and airlines. The administration was authorized by the congress in 1979 to coordinate with airport management to establish and enforce noise pollution standards which was implemented in 1980s. Towards the end of the 20th century, FAA has developed programs aimed at installing improved traffic control systems in all airports and space exploration (Schmidt, 2005).
Aviation regulation has undergone many changes since the enactment of the air commercial act in 1926. Since then, many federal agencies have been created to regulate air transport. The Federal Aviation Administration was formed over half a century ago and has streamlined aviation industry transforming how Americans live, link with others. FAA has made American air transport safe, reliable and most efficient transport system in the world. In regulating aviation industry, FAA works together with other federal agencies such as Department of Homeland Security as well as airlines and airport managements.
Aviation Regulation History
Powered flight was first attempted by Orville Wright and his brother Wilber in 1903. The 12 seconds flight inspired the development of the modern aviation transport. Efforts to develop flying machines were launched all over the world and thus major aviation technological development took place in the first decades of the 20th century. Planes were used during the First World War which proved to be a necessary military tool. Airmails services also triggered the development of commercial planes. However, despite the limited technology in the first quarter of the 20th century, flying was very dangerous. Flight conditions were poor due to lack of navigation devices, magnetic compasses were the only devices used by pilots. Pilots were forced to fly low, less than 500 feet, and fatal accidents were common. The first act related to aviation industry was the Air Mail Act which was enacted in 1925. The act led to the creation of commercially oriented airline industry and some airline companies such as Ford Air Transport Services and Pan American Airways were established (FAA, 2010).
The number of flights increased tremendously towards the end of the first half of the 20th century which necessitated the need for better aviation regulations. The enactment of the Air Commerce Act in 1926 was the first attempt by the United States central government to regulate aviation industry. The act was based on the argument that air transport could not reach its commercial potential if the government did not have proper mechanisms to improve and regulate its security standards. The Secretary of Commerce was given the mandate to foster air commerce and development and enforcement of air transport standards, rules and regulation, certify air crafts and pilots. He was also mandated to establish and operate airways and navigation aids. This led to the establishment of Aeronautics Branch within the Department of Commerce. Certification of pilots and air crafts was the major concern of Department of Commerce. It operated the lighted airways which were formally operated by post office department. Radio communications in aviation improved where introduction of radio beacons was a major development in air navigation (Whitelegg, 2001).
Due to its importance, the Aeronautics Branch changed its name to Bureau of Air Commerce in 1934. As a result of increased demand for air transport, the Department of Commerce through the bureau promoted the establishment of air traffic control centers. The Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938 created Civil Aeronautics Authority which was an independent federal agency responsible for aviation regulation. This act increased the federal government authority in the control of air transport and the new authority was given powers to control fares and routes served by air lines. In 1940, President Roosevelt split the authority into Civil Aeronautics Board and Civil Aeronautics Administration. The Civil Aeronautics Administrations responsibilities were air traffic controls, certifying pilots and aircrafts, enforcing safety standards and development of airways. The Civil Aeronautics Board on the other had regulated safety standards, economics of airlines and was responsible for investigation of air accidents. While CAA was under the department of commerce, CAB was an autonomous government agency.
When the United States entered the Second World War, CAA extended its air traffic controls and started controlling landings and takeoffs at all airports. The expanded responsibility continued and became permanent after the end of the war. The use of ladar in air traffic control after the war ensured that the authority was able to cope with the boom in the air transport. In 1946, CAA was given the responsibility of administering government programs in airports by the congress. The financial assistance programs were aimed at developing civil airport in the whole country.
The enactment of the Federal Aviation Act in 1958 was prompted by a series of air accidents which led to the creation of Federal Aviation Agency from the CAA. The act gave FAA the mandate of regulating air transport safety and it was to be responsible for both civil and military navigation systems and air traffic controls. The first head of FAA was a former general in the US Air Force and he had served in President Eisenhower government as his advisor. During the same years, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was established to spearhead research on Aeronautic and space exploration. This was prompted by the launch of the first space satellite by the Soviet Union (Sinha, 1999).
The creation of US Department of Transport, DOT in 1969 led to the merger of all federal transport authorities and the creation of Federal Aviation Administration which was one of the agencies under DOT. Federal aviation administration took over the mandate of Federal Aviation Agency while National Transport Safety Board took over the responsibilities of CAB. The responsibilities of Federal Aviation Administration have however expanded over the time. Increased cases of hijacking led to the involvement of Federal Aviation Administration in aviation security, a role that was assumed by the Department of Homeland Security following the 911 attack by terrorists. In 1968, the administration was given the powers to set noise pollution standards in airports. In the 1960s and 1970s, the FAA was involved in regulating other forms of flying such as the altitude of balloon flying. It also acquired better traffic control systems which were semi automated and used computer technology. The Airline Deregulation Act was also enacted in 1978 which overruled economic regulation of air transport and airlines. The administration was authorized by the congress in 1979 to coordinate with airport management to establish and enforce noise pollution standards which was implemented in 1980s. Towards the end of the 20th century, FAA has developed programs aimed at installing improved traffic control systems in all airports and space exploration (Schmidt, 2005).
Aviation regulation has undergone many changes since the enactment of the air commercial act in 1926. Since then, many federal agencies have been created to regulate air transport. The Federal Aviation Administration was formed over half a century ago and has streamlined aviation industry transforming how Americans live, link with others. FAA has made American air transport safe, reliable and most efficient transport system in the world. In regulating aviation industry, FAA works together with other federal agencies such as Department of Homeland Security as well as airlines and airport managements.
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