Federal Aviation Administration

===21st century===
In December 2000, an organization within the FAA called the [[Air Traffic Organization]],<ref>[http://ato.faa.gov Air Traffic Organization] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070419014949/http://www.ato.faa.gov/ |date=April 19, 2007 }} Official website.</ref> (ATO) was set up by presidential executive order. This became the [[air navigation service provider]] for the airspace of the United States and for the New York (Atlantic) and Oakland (Pacific) oceanic areas. It is a full member of the [[Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation]].

The FAA issues a number of awards to holders of its certificates. Among these are demonstrated proficiencies as an aviation mechanic (the AMT Awards), a flight instructor (Gold Seal certification), a 50-year aviator (Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award), a 50-year mechanic (Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award) or as a proficient pilot. The latter, the FAA "[[Pilot Proficiency Award Program|WINGS Program]]", provides a lifetime series of grouped proficiency activities at three levels (Basic, Advanced, and Master) for pilots who have undergone several hours of ground and flight training since their last WINGS award, or "Phase". The FAA encourages volunteerism in the promotion of aviation safety. The FAA Safety Team, or FAASTeam, works with Volunteers at several levels and promotes safety education and outreach nationwide.

On March 18, 2008, the FAA ordered its inspectors to reconfirm that airlines are complying with federal rules after revelations that [[Southwest Airlines]] flew dozens of aircraft without certain mandatory inspections.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/03/18/air.safety/index.html FAA looking to see if airlines made safety repairs] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321214609/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/03/18/air.safety/index.html |date=March 21, 2008 }}.</ref> The FAA exercises surprise [[Red team#Airport security|Red Team]] drills on national airports annually.

On October 31, 2013, after outcry from media outlets, including heavy criticism <ref>{{cite news |title=If the FAA changes its electronics rules, you can thank a reporter |url=http://blog.chron.com/techblog/2013/10/if-the-faa-changes-its-electronics-rules-you-can-thank-a-reporter/ |author=Dwight Silverman |date=October 7, 2013 |newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]] |access-date= November 16, 2014 |archive-date=May 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525075115/http://blog.chron.com/techblog/2013/10/if-the-faa-changes-its-electronics-rules-you-can-thank-a-reporter/ |url-status=live}}</ref> from [[Nick Bilton]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://skift.com/2013/10/31/the-internet-is-thanking-nick-bilton-for-the-faas-new-rules/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525062418/http://skift.com/2013/10/31/the-internet-is-thanking-nick-bilton-for-the-faas-new-rules/|archive-date=May 25, 2015|title = The Internet Is Thanking Nick Bilton for the FAA’s New Rules|first = Jason|last= Clampet|work = Skift|date = 31 October 2013|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bilton |first= Nick |title= Disruptions: How the F.A.A., Finally, Caught Up to an Always-On Society |work=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 9, 2013 |url=//bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/disruptions-as-society-changes-a-brighter-future-for-devices-on-planes/ |access-date=July 28, 2019 |archive-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930223922/https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/disruptions-as-society-changes-a-brighter-future-for-devices-on-planes/ |url-status=live}}</ref> the FAA announced it will allow airlines to expand the passengers use of portable electronic devices during all phases of flight, but [[mobile phone]] calls would still be prohibited (and use of cellular networks during any point when aircraft doors are closed remains prohibited to-date). Implementation initially varied among airlines. The FAA expected many carriers to show that their planes allow passengers to safely use their devices in [[airplane mode]], gate-to-gate, by the end of 2013. Devices must be held or put in the seat-back pocket during the actual takeoff and landing. Mobile phones must be in airplane mode or with mobile service disabled, with no signal bars displayed, and cannot be used for voice communications due to [[Federal Communications Commission]] regulations that prohibit any airborne calls using mobile phones. From a technological standpoint, cellular service would not work in-flight because of the rapid speed of the airborne aircraft: mobile phones cannot switch fast enough between cellular towers at an aircraft's high speed. However, the ban is due to potential radio interference with aircraft avionics. If an air carrier provides [[Wi-Fi]] service during flight, passengers may use it. Short-range [[Bluetooth]] accessories, like [[wireless keyboard]]s, can also be used.<ref>{{cite web |title=At last! FAA green lights gadgets on planes |url=http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/10/31/faa-oks-air-passengers-using-gadgets-on-planes/ |publisher=[[Fox News]] |access-date=October 31, 2013 |archive-date=November 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101070053/http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/10/31/faa-oks-air-passengers-using-gadgets-on-planes/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2014, in the wake of the downing of [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17]], the FAA suspended flights by U.S. airlines to [[Ben Gurion Airport]] during the [[2014 Israel–Gaza conflict]] for 24 hours. The ban was extended for a further 24 hours but was lifted about six hours later.<ref name="IraqBA">{{cite news |title=British Airways CEO insists flights over Iraq are safe |url=http://www.theuknews.com/index.php/sid/224382415/scat/0f440bf3fff89f01/ht/British-Airways-CEO-insists-flights-over-Iraq-are-safe |access-date=August 2, 2014 |publisher=The UK News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808053222/http://www.theuknews.com/index.php/sid/224382415/scat/0f440bf3fff89f01/ht/British-Airways-CEO-insists-flights-over-Iraq-are-safe |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 gives the FAA one year to establish minimum pitch, width and length for airplane seats, to ensure they are safe for passengers.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/27/airplane-seat-sizes-would-be-regulated-in-faa-law.html |title=House passes bill to require minimum standards for airplane seat size, legroom |last=Josephs |first=Leslie |date=September 27, 2018 |work=[[CNBC]]|access-date=September 28, 2018 |archive-date=September 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928073614/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/27/airplane-seat-sizes-would-be-regulated-in-faa-law.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr302/BILLS-115hr302enr.pdf |title=FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 |date=October 5, 2018 |access-date=July 28, 2019 |archive-date=August 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803034132/https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr302/BILLS-115hr302enr.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.enotrans.org/article/summary-of-final-compromise-faa-reauthorization-act-of-2018/ |title=Summary of Final Compromise FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 |publisher=Eno Center for Transportation |date=September 24, 2018 |first=Jeff |last=Davis |quote=Section 577 of the bill requires the FAA to issue rules establishing minimum width, length and seat pitch of airline seats. |access-date=July 28, 2019 |archive-date=July 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728044050/https://www.enotrans.org/article/summary-of-final-compromise-faa-reauthorization-act-of-2018/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The first FAA licensed orbital [[human space flight]] [[SpaceX Crew-1|took place on November 15, 2020]], carried out by [[SpaceX]] on behalf of NASA.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/space/article/Crew-1-is-headed-to-Space-Station-launching-the-15729280.php |title=Crew-1 is headed to Space Station, launching the NASA/SpaceX venture |date=November 10, 2020 |work=[[CNBC]]|access-date=November 10, 2020 |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116004235/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/space/article/Crew-1-is-headed-to-Space-Station-launching-the-15729280.php |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.space.com/nasa-certifies-spacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-go-for-launch |title=NASA certifies SpaceX's Crew Dragon for astronaut flights, gives 'go' for Nov. 14 launch |website=[[Space.com]] |date=November 11, 2020 |access-date=November 16, 2020 |archive-date=November 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113004627/https://www.space.com/nasa-certifies-spacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-go-for-launch |url-status=live}}</ref>