In 1958, the United States government created the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) due to growing safety concerns due to plane crashes. However, they were not the first government organization to regulate air travel. Even in 1958, the FAA shared some responsibilities with other organizations. The FAA's responsibilities at the time were limited compared to their functions today, but it was an important step in effectively creating a safe environment for air transportation. To truly understand why the FAA was created, you must first understand the role of government within the country's transportation system. Discussion The United States Constitution gives the federal government the authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, regulate the postal service, formulate treaties with foreign nations, and defend the nation with military forces (Wensveen, 2007). The airline industry can technically fall under any of these government authorities. The planes can be used between states or foreign countries. They can be used to deliver mail through the United States Postal Service and be used for national defense. It is for these reasons that the government decided to establish aviation regulatory organizations. However, the main reasons for regulation were to ensure civilian safety and advance the industry. Many different organizations have performed these tasks. The first major department was the Post Office Department. The Post Office Department may seem like a strange office to regulate air traffic, but their intentions were somewhat different than those of today's FAA. After World War I, the massive use of airplanes was noted as a possible way to transport people and goods across the country. created to maintain safety in the airline industry. The organization has undergone many changes over the years, has had many different names and, at times, shared responsibilities. Government regulation of the airline industry is evident in the United States Constitution. Although government involvement has been significantly reduced due to deregulation, it still plays an important role in protecting its citizens. It will remain this way in the future too. Works Cited Breyer, S. (2011). Airline deregulation revisited. Bloomberg Business Week. Retrieved from http://www.ebscohost.comCurtis, W. (2011). The golden age of air travel. Forbes, 96. Retrieved from http://www.ebscohost.comWensveen, J. G. (2007). Air transport: a management perspective. Brookfield: Ashgate Publishing Group.