FAA History Lesson -- May 20

There are a multitude of entries for today, May 20th, in the FAA’s history. I’ve decided to go with the very first entry in the FAA Historical Chronology, 1926-1996 -- the Air Commerce Act of 1926.

From the FAA Historical Chronology, 1926-1996...

”May 20, 1926: President Calvin Coolidge signed the Air Commerce Act of 1926 into law. The act instructed the Secretary of Commerce to foster air commerce; designate and establish airways; establish, operate, and maintain aids to air navigation (but not airports); arrange for research and development to improve such aids; license pilots; issue airworthiness certificates for aircraft and major aircraft components; and investigate accidents. (See Introduction.) ”

As significant as that is, tomorrow is just as significant. This date brought about the straw that broke the camel’s back -- another mid-air collision that finally forced the government to act.


Don Brown
May 20, 2008