In 1958, the United States government created the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) due to increasing safety concerns due to aviation accidents. However, they were not the first government organization to regulate air transportation. Even in 1958, the FAA shared some responsibilities with other organizations. The FAA's responsibilities at the time were limited compared to their current functions, but it was an important step in effectively creating a safe air transportation environment. To truly understand why the FAA was created, one must first understand the government's role in the nation's transportation system. DiscussionThe United States Constitution gives the federal government the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, regulate the postal service, formulate treaties with foreign nations, and defend the nation with military forces (Wensveen, 2007). The airline industry can technically fall under any of these government authorities. Airplanes can be used between states or foreign countries. They can be used to deliver mail through the United States Postal Service and be used for national defense. It is for these reasons that the government decided to create aviation regulatory bodies. However, the main reasons for the regulations were to ensure civil safety and advance the industry. Many different organizations have accomplished these tasks. The first major department was the Post Office Department. The Post Office Department may seem like a strange office charged with regulating air traffic, but its intentions were somewhat different from those of today's FAA. After World War I, the widespread use of airplanes was noted as a possible means of transporting people and goods across the country...... middle of paper ......contains control of the American airspace. ConclusionUltimately, the FAA was created to maintain safety within the airline industry. The organization has gone through many changes over the years, has had many different names, and has sometimes shared responsibilities. Government regulation of the airline industry is evident in the U.S. Constitution. Even though government involvement has been significantly reduced due to deregulation, it still plays an important role in protecting its citizens. It will remain so in the future. Works Cited Breyer, S. (2011). Airline deregulation revisited. Bloomberg Business Week. Retrieved from http://www.ebscohost.comCurtis, W. (2011). The golden age of air travel. Forbes, 96. Retrieved from http://www.ebscohost.com Wensveen, J. G. (2007). Air transport: a management perspective. Brookfield: Ashgate Publishing Group.