Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation created in 1958 to regulate air transportation. The agency's main responsibility is the operation and maintenance of the national air traffic control system in the interests of efficiency and safety. It also took over most of the functions of the Civil Aeronautics Board, in preparation for the CAB's end in 1985. In 1981 the FAA terminated the services of some 12,000 air controllers who went on strike in violation of federal law.