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From safety oversight to technology innovations, the FAA Blog shares insights that keep the public and aviation community informed about how we're keeping the nation's skies safe.
George Washington and four future presidents witnessed our nation’s first aviation milestone in Philadelphia, 1793, when Jean-Pierre Blanchard, the French aeronaut and pioneer of gas balloon flight, took to the air in a hydrogen-filled balloon from the interior yard of the Walnut Street Prison.
How Archie League Helped Pioneer Air Traffic Control
His office was a beach chair. His ‘control tower’ a wheelbarrow housing two rolled-up flags. The checkered flag signaled GO. The red flag commanded HOLD. With those tools to communicate with pilots Archie William League became America’s first air traffic controller at the St. Louis airfield. A lunch pail, drinking water, notepad and umbrella helped him get through the day. His hire date was January 1, 1929.
Florida's airspace is in ultra-high demand, so the FAA introduced ultra-high airspace this spring over parts of the Southeast. We're already seeing major improvements – reduced congestion, more available airspace and fewer delays.
With an increase in commercial space activity, there is no shortage of interest from the news media and the flying public on what the FAA's role is in ensuring the safety and efficiency of commercial space launch and reentry operations. Here are some facts around what the FAA does.
