PurposeThe Federal Aviation Act of 1958 created the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) and gave it broad authority to combat aviation hazards as well broad rulemaking power. In addition, the FAA has sole responsibility for
developing and maintaining a common civil-military system of air navigation and air traffic control. In 1968, Congress gave the FAA the power to set aircraft noise standards.
Today, the agency's mission is "to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world."