Overview
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a US federal government agency within the Department of Transportation that regulates civil aviation in the United States and surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic control, certification of both personnel and aircraft, setting safety standards for airports, and protecting US assets during the launch or re-entry of commercial space vehicles, with authority over neighboring international waters delegated to it by the International Civil Aviation Organization. The FAA's certification authority extends to virtually every aspect of US civil aviation, from individual pilot licenses to the type certification required before any new aircraft model can enter commercial service. As one of the world's most influential aviation regulators, FAA certification and safety standards often carry significant weight internationally, since many other countries' aviation authorities reference or align closely with FAA requirements.
History
The FAA traces its origins to the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, passed in response to a series of mid-air collisions that highlighted serious gaps in US air traffic control and aviation safety oversight at the time. The agency was initially established as the Federal Aviation Agency before being renamed the Federal Aviation Administration in 1967, when it was moved into the newly created US Department of Transportation. The FAA's regulatory authority expanded substantially through the following decades, growing to encompass not just air traffic control but aircraft certification, airport standards, and eventually oversight of commercial space vehicle launches and re-entries. The agency has remained one of the world's most influential aviation regulators for over six decades, with FAA certification and safety standards often carrying significant weight internationally given the size and technical sophistication of the US aviation industry.
Design & Specifications
The FAA operates air traffic control facilities, issues certificates, and sets safety standards enforced through inspection and audit programs.
Operations
The FAA regulates all US civil aviation continuously, from individual pilot certification to airline operating certificates and airport safety standards.
References
| Category | Regulatory Bodies, Law & Alliances |
| Type | US national aviation regulator |
| Founded | 1958 (renamed 1967) |
| Parent Dept. | US Dept. of Transportation |
| Scope | ATC, certification, airports, space launches |