Airport Program. This program was designed to promote  the establishment of civil airports throughout the country.  By mid-century, air traffic had increased and jet aircraft had  been introduced into the civil aviation arena. A series of  mid-air collisions underlined the need for more regulation  of the aviation industry. Aircraft were not only increasing in  numbers, but were now streaking across the skies at much  higher speeds. The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 established  a new independent body that assumed the roles of the CAA  and transferred the rule making authority of the CAB to the  newly created Federal Aviation Agency (FAA). In addition,  the FAA was given complete control of the common civil- military system of air navigation and ATC. The man who  was given the honor of being the first Administrator of the  FAA was former Air Force General Elwood Richard “Pete”  Quesada. He served as the administrator from 1959–1961.  [Figure 1-10]  the future. The DOT began operation on April 1, 1967. At  this same time, the Federal Aviation Agency was renamed  to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  The role of the CAB was assumed by the newly created  National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which was  charged with the investigation of all transportation accidents  within the United States.  As aviation continued to grow, the FAA took on additional  duties and responsibilities. With the highjacking epidemic  of the 1960s, the FAA was responsible for increasing the  security duties of aviation both on the ground and in the air.  After September 11, 2001, the duties were transferred to  a newly created body called the Department of Homeland  Security (DHS).  With numerous aircraft flying in and out of larger cities, the  FAA began to concentrate on the environmental aspect of  aviation by establishing and regulating the noise standards  of aircraft. Additionally, in the 1960s and 1970s, the FAA  began to regulate high altitude (over 500 feet) kite and balloon  flying. In 1970, more duties were assumed by the FAA in the  addition of a new federal airport aid program and increased  responsibility for airport safety.  By the mid-1970s, the FAA had achieved a semi-automated  ATC system based on a marriage of radar and computer  technology. By automating certain routine tasks, the system  allowed controllers to concentrate more efficiently on the  vital task of providing aircraft separation. Data appearing  directly on the controllers’ scopes provided the identity,  altitude, and groundspeed of aircraft carrying radar beacons.  Despite its effectiveness, this system required enhancement  to keep pace with the increased air traffic of the late 1970s.  The increase was due in part to the competitive environment  created by the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. This law  phased out CAB’s economic regulation of the airlines, and  CAB ceased to exist at the end of 1984.  To meet the challenge of traffic growth, the FAA unveiled  the National Airspace System (NAS) Plan in January  1982. The new plan called for more advanced systems  for en route and terminal ATC, modernized flight service  stations, and improvements in ground-to-air surveillance  and communication.  While preparing the NAS Plan, the FAA faced a strike  by key members of its workforce. An earlier period of  discord between management and the Professional Air  Figure 1-10.  First Administrator of the FAA was General Elwood  Richard “Pete” Quesada, 1959–1961.  The Professional Air Traffic Controllers  Organization (PATCO) Strike  ATC Automation  Department of Transportation (DOT)  On October 15, 1966, Congress established the Department  of Transportation (DOT), which was given oversight of the  transportation industry within the United States. The result  was a combination of both air and surface transportation. Its  mission was and is to serve the United States by ensuring a  fast, safe, efficient, accessible, and convenient transportation  system meeting vital national interests and enhancing the  quality of life of the American people, then, now, and into  1-6  The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 