Category: TDiFH

Full FAA Chronology at this link.
19500803: Legislation enacted on this date provided criminal sanctions for knowing and willful display of false or misleading marks as to an aircraft’s nationality or registration.
19550803: President Eisenhower signed Public Law 211, making major changes in the Federal-aid airport program and removing the 1958 time limit prescribed by the original act, as amended in 1950. The changes established a four-year program which placed the total funding for fiscal 1956 at $62.5 million and provided $63 million for each of the fiscal years 1957-59. The law also made all types and sizes of airports eligible for aid, included development of airport buildings as eligible items,

Full FAA Chronology at this link.
19280801: As a first step toward promoting uniform state aeronautical legislation consistent with Federal law, the Aeronautics Branch issued Aeronautics Bulletin No. 18 reviewing the characteristics of various state statutes and setting forth suggested drafts of required laws. At this time, 20 states had no aeronautical legislation. (See December 16, 1930.)
19410801: CAA added a new region, the Eighth to its organizational structure. The region covered the territory of Alaska, with headquarters at Anchorage. Prior to this time, direction for aeronautical activities in Alaska had been provided partly by the Seventh Regional Office in Seattle, and partly by CAA’s Bureau of Federal Airways in Washington, D.C. (See June 1, 1938.)
19460801: A British civil aviation bill was approved, giving the monopoly of British scheduled air services to three state-owned corporations.

Full FAA Chronology at this link.
19340731: The Bureau of Air Commerce designated the first full-time aeronautical inspector for permanent duty in Alaska. Heretofore, Department of Commerce responsibilities in Alaska under the Air Commerce Act had been accomplished in the course of an annual visit by an inspector. The duties of the inspector included examination of airmen and aircraft for licensing, enforcement of airline regulations and air traffic rules, inspection of flying schools, rating of airports, and all other matters under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce. An important part of these duties was to cooperate closely with the territorial government in seeking to develop airports and stimulate interest in flying.
19410731: Lt. H. A. Boushey, Army Air Forces, made the first successful jet-assisted takeoff (jato) in the United States, at March Field, Calif., in an Ercoupe with pressed-powder-propellant jato rockets developed by the California Institute of Technology.
19490731: CAA inaugurated the first direct radiotelephone communications service between aircraft and an Air Route Traffic Control Center at the Chicago ARTCC.

Full FAA Chronology at this link.
19470730: The President signed Public Law 289, an amendment to the Surplus Property Act of 1944, to help speed the conversion to civil use of airports, airport facilities, and aviation equipment no longer needed by the military. Recognizing that maintenance of the airports would require substantial funds, the law authorized transfer of surplus property to develop sources of revenue from non-aviation businesses at such airports.
19810730: In San Diego Unified Port District v. Gianturco, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit struck down an attempt by the State of California to impose more stringent noise rules at Lindbergh Field than those imposed by Lindbergh’s proprietor. The court’s decision included a rationale for the “Burbank exception” (see May 14, 1973). Noting that the U.S. Supreme Court had held in Griggs v. Allegheny that airport proprietors can be held liable for the noise produced by aircraft using their facilities (see March 5, 1962), the Court observed that “fairness dictates that they must also have power to insulate themselves from that liability.”

Full FAA Chronology at this link.
19380729: Pan American’s Hawaii Clipper disappeared between Guam and Manila, and searchers failed to find a trace of the aircraft. The frequency of transpacific service was reduced as a result of the clipper’s loss.
19480729: Approval of a CAA mission to Venezuela brought the number operating in South America to four. In order of their establishment, they included missions to Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, and Venezuela.
19630729: FAA Administrator Halaby announced the appointment of Gordon M. Bain to the new position of Deputy Administrator for Supersonic Transport Development.

Full FAA Chronology at this link.
19450728: Flying in fog over New York City, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bomber crashed into the Empire State Building, causing the deaths all three persons on the plane and eleven in the building.
19760728: Capt. Eldon W. Joersz, USAF, piloted a Lockheed SR-71A “Blackbird” at 2,193.16 mph near Beale Air Force Base, Calif., setting a Federation Aeronautique Internationale absolute world record for speed over a straight course. (See October 3, 1967.)
20170728: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said FAA must take a second look at its policies in regard to airline seat sizes.

Full FAA Chronology at this link.
19310727: A convention of “Key Men” involved in organizing the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) voted for affiliation with the American Federation of Labor. On August 10, the AF of L formally granted affiliation to ALPA, which became the largest union representing airline pilots. ALPA’s presidents and the dates of their election were: David L. Behncke, 1931; Clarence N. Sayen, 1952; Charles H. Ruby, 1962; John J. O’Donnell, 1970; Henry A. Duffy, 1982; and J. Randolph Babbitt, 1990.
19710727: FAA put into operation two mobile lounges that could be raised and lowered to accommodate varying aircraft floor heights at Dulles International Airport. The new lounges, which carried up to 150 passengers were designed to mate with the Boeing 747, Lockheed L-1011, and McDonnell Douglas DC-10, and other commercial aircraft.

Full FAA Chronology at this link.
19510726: The three U.S. armed services agreed to the establishment of Project Lincoln, a study of the air defense program by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (See April 10, 1953.)
19590726: FAA consolidated responsibility for the planning, coordination, and utilization of radio frequencies in a newly established Frequency Management Staff Division within its Bureau of Facilities. In addition to these functions, the new staff division was assigned responsibility for representing FAA before the Interdepartmental Radio Advisory Committee.
19720726: FAA retitled the V/STOL (vertical/short takeoff and landing) Special Projects Office the Quiet Short-Haul Air Transportation System Office.

Full FAA Chronology at this link.
19470725: President Truman approved the National Security Act, which provided for the unification of U.S. Armed Forces, including an Air Force coequal with the Army and Navy, under a new Department of Defense.
19570725: Dynamite exploded in the lavatory of a Western Airlines Convair 240 flying at 7,500 feet over California, blowing the person who had detonated the charge through the side of the aircraft. The plane landed successfully without further casualties.
19610725: FAA requested contract bids for the development of a compact airborne radar beacon for light aircraft. The transponders became commercially available during fiscal year 1965.