Federal Aviation Administration

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation with authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S. The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 created the group under the name "Federal Aviation Agency", and adopted its current name in 1967 when it became a part of the United States Department of Transportation. The FAA is the single most influential government-run aviation agency in the world, with the European Aviation Safety Agency in a close second.

Federal Aviation Administration
[[file:Seal of the United States Federal Aviation Administration.svg|180px]]
Seal of the Federal Aviation Administration
Flag of the United States Federal Aviation Administration.svg
Flag of the Federal Aviation Administration
Agency overview
Formed August 23, 1958; 66 years ago (1958-08-23)
Preceding agency Civil Aeronautics Administration
Jurisdiction U.S. federal government
Headquarters Orville Wright Federal Building
800 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, D.C., U.S. 20591
Annual budget US$15.956 billion (FY2010)
Agency executive Billy Nolen, Administrator (Acting)
Parent agency U.S. Department of Transportation
Website
www.faa.gov
Footnotes
[1][2]

Major functions

The FAA's roles include:

  • Regulating U.S. commercial space transportation
  • Regulating air navigation facilities' geometric and flight inspection standards
  • Encouraging and developing civil aeronautics, including new aviation technology
  • Issuing, suspending, or revoking pilot certificates
  • Regulating civil aviation to promote transportation safety in the United States, especially through local offices called Flight Standards District Offices
  • Developing and operating a system of air traffic control and navigation for both civil and military aircraft
  • Researching and developing the National Airspace System and civil aeronautics
  • Developing and carrying out programs to control aircraft noise and other environmental effects of civil aviation

Federal Aviation Administration Media

References

Other websites