FAA - Federal Aviation Administration
The FAA is the element of the U.S. Government with primary responsibility for the safety of civil aviation. The FAA was originally designated the Federal Aviation Agency when established by the Federal Aviation Act of 1958. The present name was adopted in 1967 when the FAA became a component of the Department of Transportation. The FAA's major functions include:
- Regulating civil aviation to promote safety and fulfill the requirements of national defense
- Encouraging and developing civil aeronautics, including new aviation technology
- Developing and operating a common system of air traffic control and navigation for both civil and military aircraft
- Research and development with respect to the National Airspace System and civil aeronautics
- Developing and implementing programs to control aircraft noise and other environmental effects of civil aviation
- Regulating U.S. commercial space transportation