This Day in FAA History: July 22nd

Full FAA Chronology at this link.
19750722: FAA announced that it had awarded contracts to the Bendix Corp. and Texas Instruments to build, test, and evaluate prototypes of the new microwave landing system (MLS) under Phase III of the MLS development program. Each contractor was to build two models of the system–the small community airport configuration and the basic configuration—using a time reference scanning beam signal format. (See February 27, 1975, and June 1976.)
19800722: Holding what was reported to be a small handgun to the back of a flight attendant, a man diverted a Delta Air Lines L-1011 to Cuba, beginning a series of hijackings by Cuban refugees who had arrived in the U.S. during the boat lift from the port of Mariel that began in April 1980 (see January 25, 1980). Mariel refugees returned to their homeland in 10 hijackings between August 10 and September 17. During the last quarter of 1980, however, no successful “Marielista” hijackings occurred. Factors in this improvement were special FAA security measures, coupled with the immediate return of two hijackers by the Cuban government. The phenomenon continued, however, and one successful Marielista hijacking took place in 1981. During 1982, three airliners were diverted to Cuba by Spanish-speaking men (at least one of whom was a Marielista) using flammable liquid as their weapon. The threat to ignite real or alleged flammable liquid had been used in every successful hijacking to Cuba since August 13, 1980. (See May 1, 1983.)
19870722: T. Allan McArtor became the tenth FAA Administrator, succeeding Donald D. Engen (see April 10, 1984). McArtor took the oath a second time in a public ceremony on July 27. President Reagan had announced the new Administrator’s appointment on June 5, and the Senate had confirmed it on July 17.
Born in 1942 in St. Louis, Mo., McArtor received a B.S.E. from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1964 and a M.S.E. in engineering mechanics from Arizona State University in 1971. He served as a fighter pilot in Vietnam, logging 200 combat missions and winning the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross. McArtor flew with the Air Force Thunderbirds precision flying team from 1972 to 1974. He joined the Federal Express Corporation in 1979, and was senior vice president for telecommunications at the time of his selection to head FAA. He had also chaired the Department of Transportation Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee from June 1986 to June 1987. McArtor served as FAA Administrator for over 18 months, resigning during the first month of the Bush Administration. (See February 17, 1989.)
20040722: In its final report, the commission established to investigate the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks criticized FAA’s response and preparedness. The commission, however, acknowledged that agency employees adapted quickly to the crisis. (See October 15, 2003.)
20140722: In a notice to airmen issued at 12:15 EDT, FAA prohibited U.S. airlines from flying to or from Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport for a period of up to 24 hours. FAA issued the notice in response to a rocket strike which landed approximately one mile from the airport on the morning of July 22, 2014. The order, which affected 12 U.S. flights per day, was issued to reduce the chance of air travelers becoming casualties in the war between Israel and Hamas. FAA extended the ban for an additional 24 hours on July 23, but later cancelled the notice at 11:45 p.m. ETD.
20150722: FAA announced it had selected Alexandria International Airport in Alexandria, LA, to participate in the military airport program (MAP). Alexandria International was a nonhub primary airport that would participate in the program for three years. The MAP selection would help the airport complete a major apron rehabilitation project. Since 1990, FAA had provided MAP sponsors with approximately $690 million for a variety of projects, such as building or rehabilitating surface parking lots, fuel farms, hangars, utility systems, access roads, cargo buildings, and other airfield needs. Some of these project types were not normally eligible for airport improvement program funding, but the MAP program carried unique eligibility rules to help convert the airports to civilian or joint-use. (See August 17, 2016.)
20210722: FAA approved Trailwind Air’s seaplane route from Boston Harbor to Manhattan. The airline made its first flight on August 3.