United States Federal Aviation Administration
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Flag of the Federal Aviation Administration
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | August 23, 1958 |
| Preceding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Federal government of the United States |
| Headquarters | 800 Independence Avenue SW Washington, D.C. 20591 38°53′14.31″N 77°1′19.98″W / 38.8873083°N 77.0222167°W |
| Annual budget | US$15.956 billion (FY2010) |
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| Parent agency | U.S. Department of Transportation |
| Website | www |
| Footnotes | |
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States is a national authority with powers to regulate all aspects of civil aviation. These include the construction and operation of airports, the management of air traffic, the certification of personnel and aircraft, and the protection of US assets during the launch or reentry of commercial space vehicles.
The FAA's roles include:
The FAA is divided into four "lines of business" (LOB). Each LOB has a specific role within the FAA.
The FAA is headquartered in Washington, D.C. as well as the William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and its nine regional offices:
The Air Commerce Act of May 20, 1926, is the cornerstone of the federal government's regulation of civil aviation. This landmark legislation was passed at the urging of the aviation industry, whose leaders believed the airplane could not reach its full commercial potential without federal action to improve and maintain safety standards. The Act charged the Secretary of Commerce with fostering air commerce, issuing and enforcing air traffic rules, licensing pilots, certifying aircraft, establishing airways, and operating and maintaining aids to air navigation. The newly created Aeronautics Branch, operating under the Department of Commerce assumed primary responsibility for aviation oversight.
In fulfilling its civil aviation responsibilities, the Department of Commerce initially concentrated on such functions as safety regulations and the certification of pilots and aircraft. It took over the building and operation of the nation's system of lighted airways, a task initiated by the Post Office Department. The Department of Commerce improved aeronautical radio communications — before the founding of the Federal Communications Commission in 1934, which handles most such matters today — and introduced radio beacons as an effective aid to air navigation.
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