ABSTRACT
In 1961 and 1962, seven major studies of transportation and its regulation were released by various federal agencies and study groups. Although the recommendations of these studies varied, they generally supported relaxation of federal regulations and greater reliance on market forces. Congressional hearings were held on several bills involving most of President Johnson's recommendations. Although some opposition was expressed to specific proposals, there was general support for creation of the Department of Transportation. The legislation creating the agency was approved in October 1966. The DOT commenced operations on April 1, 1967, and Alan S. Boyd was appointed the first secretary of transportation. Chief among the day-to-day operations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is promotion of aviation safety while ensuring efficient use of the nation's navigable airspace. The FAA also reviews blueprints and specifications of all new aircraft designs and certifies their fitness to fly after extensive ground and air tests.
