Origins Flashcards
What is the Kelly Act?
The Kelly Act (also known as the Air Mail Act) authorized the
postmaster general to contract for domestic airmail service with commercial air carriers. By
transferring airmail operations to private companies, the government helped create the
commercial aviation industry. Additionally, the Kelly Act contained language that set forth the
precedent that only those who use aviation would pay for it, thus providing one of the airport
industry’s first principles—aviation should pay for itself.
What’s a Fixed-base operator?
Started as early terminals that not only provided fuel for the plane, but also temporary rest for pilots and passengers. Still serve the same purpose today for private aircraft owners.
What is the Air Commerce Act?
Became the cornerstone of the federal government’s regulation of civil aviation. The legislation was passed at the insistence of the burgeoning aviation industry,
which felt that aviation could not reach its full commercial potential without federal regulations
to establish and improve safety standards. The Air Commerce Act created a new Aeronautics
Branch within the Department of Commerce and charged the agency with the following:
fostering air commerce, issuing and enforcing air traffic rules, licensing pilots, certifying aircraft,
establishing airways, and operating and maintaining navigational aids. Still under feds today (FAA)
What was the first airport management trade assn?
AAAE
What did the Airline Deregulation Act do?
It dissolved the Civil Aeronautics Board. The airlines, the unions, and many safety proponents opposed deregulation, fearing competition and being
concerned about job security and safety; however, the will of the public won out, and the acts
passed. Airlines and air cargo operators were free to raise or lower airfares and to expand or
remove routes and destinations at will. The industry remains “deregulated” to this day.
What effect did deregulation have?
Once deregulated, airlines were free to move operations towards more profitable markets and routes and pull out of less profitable markets and routes. While some airports experienced a loss of air carrier service, others experienced massive expansion. Deregulation allowed a concept known as “hub-andspoke” to take hold. The Air Cargo Deregulation Act of 1976 allowed companies such as Federal
Express (now FedEx) to implement a new method of moving cargo. Rather than point-to-point
service, the hub-and-spoke system allows for cargo to be transported to a central “hub,” where it
is re-sorted and put on an aircraft heading to its final destination. The passenger airlines picked
up on this concept as a more efficient method of moving passengers as well, and the system is
still largely in place today.
In what federal department did the FAA originate?
The Department of Commerce. Many FAA regulations,
FAA Orders, and Advisory Circulars today contain language that leans not just towards safe
operations, but also towards supporting commerce functions within aviation.
What was Federal Aid to Airports Program?
Continued the practice of cost sharing started by the WPA, to provide grant funds for certain
airport projects (mostly runway and taxiway development). To be eligible for funding, the airport
had to be in the National Airport Plan (NAP), which listed recommendations for airport
construction, maintenance, and operations. The federal government still provided 50 percent of
the funding with the airport sponsor (e.g. the owner) providing the other half. Airports that
accepted grant money were also held to the earlier promises that the airport would be available
for public use and without discrimination.
What is a Sponsor Assurance/Grant Assurance?
They are a foundational principle of
airport management—the expectation that public-use airports cannot deny civil aeronautical
operations.
What was the FAA’s responsibilities when it was created?
It took over safety from the CAB. The FAA would further be responsible for developing a common
civil-military system of air navigation and air traffic control, and was later brought under the newly created Department of Transportation
