Current Manned Aviation Regulation

United States federal law gives the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) the responsibility of the economic and safety regulation of the aviation industry. To fulfill this obligation, they are given the authority to conduct investigations, prescribe regulations, standards, and procedures, and issue orders [49 USC §40113(a)]. Federal law assigns great importance to safety. The paragraph on safety considerations in public interest [49 USC §40101(d)] reads:

the Administrator shall consider the following matters, among others, as being in the public interest:

• 1. assigning, maintaining, and enhancing safety and security as the highest priorities in air commerce.

• 2. regulating air commerce in a way that best promotes safety and fulfills national defense requirements.

• 3. encouraging and developing civil aeronautics, including new aviation technology.

• 4. controlling the use of the navigable airspace and regulating civil and military operations in that airspace in the interest of the safety and efficiency of both of those operations.

• 5. consolidating research and development for air navigation facilities and the installation and operation of those facilities.

• 6. developing and operating a common system of air traffic control and navigation for military and civil aircraft.

• 7. providing assistance to law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of laws related to regulation of controlled substances, to the extent consistent with aviation safety.