Who regulates airlines in the USA? This article will discuss the US aviation regulator Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Department of Transportation. The answers to these questions may surprise you. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that there is a third regulatory agency responsible for air transportation safety. Regardless of which agency you prefer, you should know that these agencies all have their own roles.
Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce regulates airlines. The agency oversees safety regulations, airports, and air traffic control. The Civil Aeronautics Board and the Department of Commerce are separate but related agencies. The Air Traffic Control Board oversees airport safety, aircraft certification, and air traffic control centers. The Department of Commerce regulates airlines by making rules and regulations and ensuring that they are competitive and safe. It also regulates the economics of air travel in the US.
Regulations were first placed by the US Department of Commerce in the 1920s. The Aeronautics Branch was created under the Commerce Department and was given power over commercial air travel. The branch was responsible for establishing airways, issuing certificates of airworthiness, and investigating aviation accidents. The department’s first head was William P. MacCracken Jr., a career civil engineer. High-profile air accidents continued to make headlines.
FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a government agency that governs civil aviation activities throughout the United States. The agency is responsible for the safe operation of more than 50,000 commercial flights daily. They enforce safety regulations for aircraft, airmen, and airports. The FAA also conducts research on air traffic control and standardized safety requirements for air travel.
The FAA’s modernization program evolved as a result of problems relating to automation. The FAA began focusing on accelerating the development of its Air Traffic Controller (ATC) system while also expanding the use of Global Positioning System satellite technology. In 1991, the FAA replaced its National Airspace System (NAS) Plan with its Capital Investment Plan, which included the projects it had started through the NAS Plan. These new initiatives included higher automation levels, new radar and communications systems, and weather forecasting.
Department of Homeland Security
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is the federal agency responsible for the regulation of air travel. Formerly part of the Department of Transportation (DOT), it was moved to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in March 2003. TSA has had seven administrators in its 19-year history. Francis X. Taylor, who served as acting administrator from June 2014 to July 3, 2015, was also under the Homeland Security Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis.
Since September 11, 2001, the TSA was created to protect the safety and security of the US transportation system. President George W. Bush signed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) into law, and TSA head John Magaw was nominated by the president on December 10, 2001 and confirmed by the Senate in January 2002. Although initially under the Department of Transportation, TSA was moved to DHS on March 9, 2003.
U.S. Department of Transportation
In the US, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates airlines, and they must follow certain regulations to improve passenger service. They also must report data about tarmac delays to the DOT. They must also incorporate government taxes into their price quotes. Additionally, they must notify customers if they have to pay fees for baggage or services. In addition, airlines must inform customers when their flight is delayed more than 30 minutes.
One of the issues that concern plaintiffs‘ attorneys is whether DOT regulations are constitutional. DOT’s regulations are invalid under international law. Foreign airlines are asserting that DOT regulations violate the Chicago Convention, various bilateral agreements, and U.S. international obligations. While the DOT dismisses these claims, their analysis is not likely to hold up under scrutiny. For example, customary international law establishes that no country has the right to extend its sovereignty over another country’s airspace.
