This Day in FAA History: August 12th

Full FAA Chronology at this link.
19490812: Effective this date, CAB awarded experimental five-year certificates authorizing scheduled all-freight operations to four airlines: Slick Airways, the Flying Tiger Line, U.S. Airlines, and Airnews. The four were among the few independent freight lines that had survived a rate war with the scheduled air carriers. In the long term, the most successful of them proved to be the Flying Tiger Line, which had been formed on July 25, 1945, by veterans of the American Volunteer Group that had served in Asia under Gen. Claire Chennault.
19700812: FAA established a Technical Assistance Staff headquartered in the United States in the Office of International Aviation Affairs to provide a variety of short-term technical assistance in aviation to foreign countries anywhere in the world. During the first year of its existence, this staff dispatched 44 technicians on short-term assignments to 13 countries. At the same time, FAA abolished the Regional Aviation Assistance Group, which had provided assistance primarily to Latin American countries.
19700812: In a rule issued this date, FAA required an advanced type of Flight Data Recorder for those large transport aircraft over 12,500 lb. certificated after September 30, 1969, that were turbine-powered or certificated to operate above 25,000 feet. By March 18, 1974, such aircraft were required to carry a type of recorder able to provide accident investigators with over three times more information on an aircraft’s control settings and other circumstances. (See August 5, 1957, and March 25, 1987).
19850812: A Japan Air Lines 747 crashed into a mountain about 70 miles northwest of Tokyo after wandering out of control for more than 30 minutes. All but 4 of the 524 persons aboard were killed, a fatality toll higher than in any previous single-plane accident. Japanese authorities listed the probable cause as rupture of the aft pressure bulkhead, and the subsequent ruptures of part of the fuselage tail, vertical fin, and hydraulic control system. They attributed the bulkhead rupture to fatigue cracks caused by improper repairs. To avert such accidents in the future, FAA ordered that a cover plate be placed over an access door in the tail section of 747s to control damage in the event of an aft pressure bulkhead failure.
19930812: The Clinton Administration announced that air traffic controllers fired for participation in the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization strike (see August 3, 1981) could apply for reemployment. (Since December 1981, the fired controllers could apply for any federal position except for jobs in the FAA and certain related positions in the Defense and Treasury Departments.) At the time of the announcement, FAA had already imposed a hiring freeze because of budget restrictions. The agency estimated that once the freeze ended it would hire fewer than 200 new controllers per year over the next few years. In January 1995, a rehired group of 26 former strikers began training, and about 14 others were rehired during that year. (See February 22, 1996).
19990812: FAA agreed to take a series of steps to reduce air traffic control delays. In particular, FAA would strengthen the decision-making authority of its Command Center, allowing the Herndon, Virginia, facility to assert more authority over large portions of a network of air traffic control centers around the country.
20140812: FAA issued a no-fly zone over Ferguson, MO, to last until August 18, after tensions escalated in the town following the fatal shooting of an unarmed teen. The agency restricted the airspace above the St. Louis suburb to provide a safe environment for law enforcement activities. Only operations under the direction of the state of Missouri could be carried out. On August 18, FAA renewed the ban on aircraft from operating under 3,000 feet through August 25; however, FAA lifted the ban on August 22.
20140812: FAA issued a final rule allowing the agency to deny an application for a new repair station certificate if the applicant or certain associated key individuals had materially contributed to the circumstances that caused a previous repair station certificate revocation action. The rule also added a new section prohibiting fraudulent or intentionally false entries or omissions of material facts in any application, record, or report made under the repair station rules, and provided that making the fraudulent or intentionally false entry or omitting or concealing the material fact was grounds for imposing a civil penalty and for suspending or revoking any certificate, approval, or authorization issued by FAA to the person who made or caused the entry or omission. (February 12, 2013.)
20160812: FAA announced the selection of the University of Oklahoma and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to lead its new transportation center of excellence for technical training and human performance. The center would conduct research and development on technical training for air traffic controllers, aviation safety inspectors, engineers, pilots, and technicians. (See May 8, 2015.)
20190812: Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chow swore in Stephen M. Dickson as the FAA’s 18th Administrator. Dickson had recently retired as the Senior Vice President of Flight Operations for Delta Air Lines. He also flew in line operations as an A320 captain, and previously had flown the B727, B737, B757, and B767 during his career. A former United States Air Force Officer and F-15 fighter pilot, Dickson was a Distinguished Graduate of the Class of 1979 at the United States Air Force Academy, as well as a graduate of the Georgia State University College of Law, magna cum laude. He had been confirmed by the Senate on July 24.
20210812: FAA began operations under the second phase of new air traffic routes and procedures in South-Central Florida. The project, referred to as the South-Central Florida Metroplex initiative, optimized aircraft arrival and departure procedures to and from 21 airports. New routes included changes in aircraft flight paths and altitudes in certain areas, but did not increase the number of aircraft operations at any of the airports. It was one of 11 Metroplex projects nationwide to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in major metropolitan areas across the country. (See February 25, 2021.)