The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), is the creation of the Federal Aviation Act (Act) of 1958.  The FAA is entrusted with authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S.  The Act empowered the FAA to regulate safety in the airline industry and the use of American airspace by both military aircraft and civilian aircraft.  The mission of FAA is to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.

The FAA functions include:

• regulating U.S. commercial space transportation;
• regulating air navigation facilities’ geometry and Flight inspection standards;
• encouraging and developing civil aeronautics, including new aviation technology;
• issuing, suspending, or revoking pilot certificates;
• regulating civil aviation to promote safety, 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; and
• developing and carrying out programs to control aircraft noise and other environmental effects of civil aviation.

The head of the FAA is the Administrator.  S/he is assisted by a deputy administrator.  In the performance of the functions of the Administrator, the Administrator is authorized to issue, rescind, and revise such regulations as are necessary to carry out those functions.[i] The Administrator is authorized to enter into and perform such contracts, leases, cooperative agreements, or other transactions necessary to carry out the functions of the Administrator and the FAA.

The Act provides for the establishment of an institute to conduct civil aeromedical research.  The functions of the Civil Aeromedical Institute include[ii]:

• (1)to conduct civil aeromedical research, including research related to;
• (A)the protection and survival of aircraft occupants;
• (B) medical accident investigation and airman medical certification;
• (C) toxicology and the effects of drugs on human performance;
• (D) the impact of disease and disability on human performance;
• (E) vision and its relationship to human performance and equipment design;
• (F) human factors of flight crews, air traffic controllers, mechanics, inspectors, airway facility technicians, and other individuals involved in operating and maintaining aircraft and air traffic control equipment; and
• (G) agency work force optimization, including training, equipment design, reduction of errors, and identification of candidate tasks for automation.
• (2) make comments to the Administrator of the FAA on human factors aspects of proposed air safety regulations;
• (3) make comments to the Administrator on human factors aspects of proposed training programs, equipment requirements, standards, and procedures for aviation personnel;
• (4) advise, assist, and represent the Federal Aviation Administration in the human factor aspects of joint projects between the Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, other departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the U.S. government, industry, and governments of foreign countries; and
• (5) provide medical consultation services to the Administrator about medical certification of airmen.

Federal Aviation Administration

[i] 49 USCS § 106.

[ii] 49 USCS § 106.