History of Flight Flashcards
Who discovered the basic foundation of aeronautics and became the first person to build a successful flying model and test a full man-carrying airplane?
Sir George Cayley
Who created the first scientifically built biplane?
Wilbur and Orville Wright
What major accomplishment did P.E. Fansler achieve/what did he start with a partnership with Tom Benoist?
Fansler was a Florida businessman who suggested to Tom Benoist, owner of Benoist Aircraft Company, that they start a route from St. Petersburg to Tampa. The two men signed an agreement that marked the beginning of the first U.S. Airline.
Who was the first paying airline customer?
The former mayor of St. Petersburg, A. C. Pheil was the first paying customer with a bid of $400.00.
Why were airmail flights used and when did the first one take place?
The mail service was used to train army pilots in flying cross-country. The first flight took place on May 15th, 1918 between New York and Washington DC.
What was the Air Commerce Act?
The Air Commerce Act (ACA) was legislation used to enforce and improve the safety of aviation through the help of the Federal Government by implementing air traffic rules, licensing pilots, certifying aircraft, establishing airways, and improving navigation standards.
What was/is the Department of Commerce and what are some of its major achievements?
The DOC is an executive branch of the federal government and during the 20th century, they made significant advances in the safety of air travel such as introducing radio beacons as effective means of navigation.
When did it start being required that pilots must be licensed? Who was the first recipient of a license?
The first license was issued on April 6th, 1927 to William P. MacCracken, Jr.
What was issued on March 29th, 1927?
The Aeronautics Branch of the DOC issued the first airworthiness certification to the Buhl Airster CA-3.
Who/what formed the first ATC?
The newly renamed Bureau of Air
Commerce (formerly Aeronautical Branch) encouraged three airlines to come together and form the first three ATC facilities along air routes.
What did the CAA do?
The CAA was able to regulate airfares and establish new routes for the airlines to service.
What was the Federal Aviation Act of 1958?
The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 established
a new independent body that assumed the roles of the CAA and transferred the rule-making authority of the CAB to the
newly created Federal Aviation Agency (FAA). In addition, the FAA was given complete control of the common civil-military system of air navigation and ATC. The man who
was given the honor of being the first Administrator of the FAA was former Air Force General Elwood Richard “Pete”
Quesada.
What was/is the Department of Transportation (DOT)?
On October 15, 1966, Congress established the Department of Transportation (DOT), which was given oversight of the
transportation industry within the United States.
What is the NTSB?
CAB was renamed/replaced by the newly created National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which was charged with the investigation of all transportation accidents
within the United States.
What was ATC automation and how did it affect CAB?
By the mid-1970s, the FAA had achieved a semi-automated ATC system based on a marriage of radar and computer technology. Data appearing directly on the controllers’ scopes provided the identity, altitude, and ground speed of aircraft carrying radar beacons. The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 phased out CAB’s economic regulation of the airlines, and CAB ceased to exist at the end of 1984.
