Impact of Air Commerce Act of 1926 on Aviation in the United States

 The Air Commerce Act of 1926

    The Air Commerce Act of 1926 successfully established Federal control over civil aviation. This regulation spanned a large number of changes, including new regulations for "aircraft, airmen, navigational facilities, and the establishment of air traffic regulations" (The Air Commerce Act of 1926, AvStop). In doing so, this legislative act changed the aviation community in the United States for the better. Specifically, this act made changes to regulations that significantly affected how safe the operations were and helped establish and maintain federal airways, increasing operability and safety. 

    One big change that came about from the Air Commerce Act was the requirement for airmen to pass physicals to ensure that the were physically fit for flight. This requirement stands today, with requirements to pass 1st, 2nd, or 3rd class medical exams in order to legally operate as Pilot in Command of a civil aircraft. In addition to this, the pilots were required to pass knowledge tests as well and be issued a pilots license. Having healthy and smart individuals as pilots was a positive change to the aviation community. 

    Moreover, the requirement for aircraft to be issued airworthiness certificates and have regular inspections was another improvement that enhanced flight safety. In the early beginnings of aviation, it was common for accidents to happen because of the unforgivable designs that were inherent in early aircraft. As technology advanced, so did the safety of aircraft and having regular maintenance to uphold these standards was a major win for aviation. 

    This act was also responsible for establishing authority of the federal government to investigate accidents. By investigating a crash, federal agencies were able to better understand why an airplane crashed and how to prevent this kind of thing from happening in the future. It was the beginning of what would become the National Transportation Safety Board's role in accident and incident investigation and prevention. This milestone was the start to the ongoing mission to make aviation safer for everyone involved. This legislative act was arguably one of the most important acts of the 20th century and has changed aviation for the better. 




A Stearman C-3B, an aircraft of the 1920's. You can see how the aircraft has an identification number on the tail, a new requirement after the passage of the Air Commerce Act of 1926. 


References

The Air Commerce Act of 1926. AvStop.com, Aviation Online Magazine. (n.d.). Retrieved January 1, 2022, from http://www.avstop.com/History/NeedRegulations/act1926.htm

Stearman aircraft. Kansas Historical Society. (n.d.). Retrieved January 1, 2022, from https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/stearman-aircraft/16723

 

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