Faa aircraft safety development program

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The authority for, goals of, and establishment of the Federal Aviation Agency aircraft safety program are described and related to the present safety records of air carrier and general aviation aircraft. Specific problem areas such as postcrash fire prevention, crashworthiness, powerplant fires, bird hazards, inflight recording, and flight performance are listed, and the current research and programs in each area are described. The results of recently completed projects are listed and future safety programs are briefly described. HE Federal Aviation Act of 1958 outlines the responsibilities of the Federal Aviation Agency in aeronautical research and development. Basically, they are development work and service testing as tends to the creation of improved aircraft, engines, propellers, and appliances, and prescribing and revising from time to time: 1) such minimum standards governing the design, materials, workmanship, construction, and performance of aircraft. . The FAA aeronautical safety research and goal may be simply stated: to provide improvements that will prevent or avoid accidents, and in case accidents do occur, to improve survivability. Secondary goals include increased economy, reliability, and utility. The responsibility for carrying out these obligations rests within the Aircraft Development Service. The FAA and its predecessor organizations have a long history of work and solid contributions in the field of aircraft safety. The original work on fuel dumping was done by FAA in 1938 and on powerplant fire protection of transport airplanes in 1939.l Other specific accomplishments of the past include: the of high rate discharge (HRD) powerplant fire extinguishing systems, the concept of smooth nacelle inner surfaces to eliminate flame-holding pockets, a reliable method of evaluating aircraft fire extinguishing systems, and the of crash resistant fuel cells for some military helicopters and specifications for cells and fittings.