Federal Aviation Administration

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation with authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S. The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 created the group under the name "Federal Aviation Agency", and adopted its current name in 1967 when it became a part of the United States Department of Transportation. The FAA is the single most influential government-run aviation agency in the world, with the European Aviation Safety Agency in a close second.

Federal Aviation Administration

Seal of the Federal Aviation Administration
Flag of the Federal Aviation Administration
Headquarters of the FAA in Washington DC
Agency overview
Formed	August 23, 1958; 66 years ago (1958-08-23)
Preceding agency	Civil Aeronautics Administration
Jurisdiction	U.S. federal government
Headquarters	Orville Wright Federal Building 800 Independence Avenue SW Washington, D.C., U.S. 20591 38°53′14.31″N 77°1′19.98″W
Annual budget	US$15.956 billion (FY2010)
Agency executive	Billy Nolen, Administrator (Acting)
Parent agency	U.S. Department of Transportation
Website	www.faa.gov
Footnotes
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Major functions

The FAA's roles include:

• Regulating U.S. commercial space transportation
• Regulating air navigation facilities' geometric and flight inspection standards
• Encouraging and developing civil aeronautics, including new aviation technology
• Issuing, suspending, or revoking pilot certificates
• Regulating civil aviation to promote transportation safety in the United States, 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
• Developing and carrying out programs to control aircraft noise and other environmental effects of civil aviation