| If you have ever flown you likely are aware of | | | | Department of Transportation, or DOT, overseas the |
| several government organizations dedicated to the | | | | operation of 13 governmental agencies, including the |
| oversight of the aviation industry. Alphabet soup | | | | Federal Aviation Administration. The chief |
| sounding names such as the FAA, DOT, and NSTB | | | | responsibilities of the DOT is to, “keep the |
| are often mentioned, but each organization has a | | | | traveling public safe and secure, increase their |
| distinct role in ensuring passenger safety. Let’s | | | | mobility, and have our transportation system |
| take a look at three federal agencies tasked with | | | | contribute to the nation’s economic |
| ensuring that your next flight is a safe one. | | | | growth.” [2] Visit for more information. |
| Federal Aviation Administration – The Federal | | | | The National Safety Transportation Board – |
| Aviation Administration, or FAA, is responsible for the | | | | The National Safety Transportation Board, or NSTB, |
| safety of civil aviation. According to their web site | | | | is an independent federal agency appointed by |
| [1], the FAA is tasked with the following | | | | Congress and tasked with investigating every civil |
| responsibilities: | | | | aviation accident in the US as well as in marine, roads, |
| • Regulating civil aviation to promote safety | | | | and other transportation areas. Since its inception in |
| • Encouraging and developing civil aeronautics, | | | | 1967, the NSTB has investigated over 124,000 |
| including new aviation technology | | | | aviation accidents. Visit [ for more information. |
| • Developing and operating a system of air | | | | Of course, today there is a fourth agency involved |
| traffic control and navigation for both civil and military | | | | to some degree in ensuring passenger safety. The |
| aircraft | | | | Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, was |
| • Researching and developing the National | | | | created in direct response to the terrorist attacks of |
| Airspace System and civil aeronautics | | | | September 11, 2001. This department oversees |
| • Developing and carrying out programs to | | | | several other agencies including the Transportation |
| control aircraft noise and other environmental effects | | | | Security Administration, the organization that hires, |
| of civil aviation | | | | trains, and deploys transportation security screeners |
| • Regulating U.S. commercial space | | | | at airports across the U.S. |
| transportation | | | | You may not know an FAA, DOT, NSTB, or DHS |
| You can learn more information about the FAA, how | | | | employee when you see one, but together they are |
| it is managed, governing responsibilities, and even | | | | all tasked with ensuring that your next flight is a safe |
| hiring information at | | | | one. |
| U.S. Department of Transportation – The | | | | |