Definition
The Federal Aviation Agency was the United States government body created by the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to regulate civil aviation, oversee air traffic control, and establish safety standards for aircraft, airmen, and airspace. It replaced the earlier Civil Aeronautics Administration and absorbed responsibilities for both civilian and certain military air traffic functions. In 1967, when the Department of Transportation was established, the Federal Aviation Agency was renamed the Federal Aviation Administration and brought under that department.
Plain English
The original name of the U.S. government office that was set up in 1958 to run aviation safety and air traffic control. In 1967 it was renamed the Federal Aviation Administration -- the FAA we know today.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation history sections explaining how modern U.S. aviation regulation and air traffic control developed.
Derivation
Agency' was the original word chosen in 1958 because the body stood on its own, reporting directly to the President. When it was folded into the new Department of Transportation in 1967, 'Agency' was changed to 'Administration' to reflect that it was now a division within a larger department. Same organization, slightly different role -- and a name change to match.
Why Pilots Care
Knowing its origins shows how early safety rules evolved into the modern regulatory system that governs all U.S. flight operations today.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as the current full name of the FAA. In this historical context, Federal Aviation Agency refers to the independent agency created in 1958; today the FAA is the Federal Aviation Administration.
Example Sentence 1
The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 created the Federal Aviation Agency to take over air traffic control and aviation safety duties from earlier organizations.
Example Sentence 2
Students reviewing Chapter 1 learn that the Federal Aviation Agency laid the groundwork for today's FAA standards.