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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation responsible for regulating and overseeing civil aviation within the United States and surrounding international waters. The FAA manages the National Airspace System, certifies aircraft and airmen, operates air traffic control systems, and enforces aviation safety regulations. Its primary mandate is to ensure the safety of civil aviation operations.
Organization and Functions
The FAA was established as an independent agency in 1958 following a series of midair collisions and became part of the Department of Transportation in 1967. The agency is headed by an Administrator who reports to the Secretary of Transportation. Key operational areas include safety regulation, airspace management, air traffic control, aircraft certification, airman certification, and airport certification.
The FAA issues Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), which set safety standards for aircraft manufacturing, maintenance, and operation. The agency certifies aircraft designs through a type certificate process, approves production facilities, and licenses pilots, mechanics, and air traffic controllers. It also conducts accident investigation oversight in coordination with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
International Role
The FAA works with foreign civil aviation authorities on bilateral airworthiness agreements and participates in international aviation standards development through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Along with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the FAA is one of the two primary authorities worldwide for aircraft certification. The agency also regulates commercial space transportation activities originating in the United States.
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