Without direct oversight of aviation development by the federal government, much of the technology and advancements we use today would not be available. Before the Deregulation Act of 1978, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) monitored and controlled nearly every aspect of the industry. It was only after the law was published that the aviation industry began to see its true potential in transportation. In the early 1900s, with the aviation industry just in its infancy, many enthusiasts experimented with the new concept of flight and quickly began improving basic aviation concepts. What was initially intended for hobbyists quickly became a staple for the US government in support of World War I and later for the Post Office Department. Aircraft were becoming increasingly capable of carrying bulk supplies and reaching greater distances. More importantly, it was a means of transporting urgent items from one point to another in a fraction of the time compared to land or water. The following decades brought many challenges to the aviation industry, from internal management, policy development, design and capabilities. and government funding. However, without government interest in the program, technological improvements would not have continued to develop increasing both quantity and quality in aviation. In the late 1940s and with the end of World War II, the eminent threat of the Cold War was just beginning. The government was bedeviled by the postwar development of the United States and was in no position to give way in the industry. Still maintaining operational control, the government published the Federal Aviation Act of 1958. The purpose of this act was: "To continue civil aeronautics... middle of the paper... the primary purpose now is to ensure impartiality" between organizations , as well as regulating financial funding for operations and security. The FAA's future role will remain important in making decisions with governments and external agencies, especially as America transitions to a global economy. Works Cited Harris, D.B. (2004, January 1). Federal Aviation Act (1958). Retrieved November 11, 2011, from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2-3407400112.htmlSiddiqi, A. (na). Deregulation and its consequences. Retrieved November 11, 2011, from the United States Centennial Commission of Flight: http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Commercial_Aviation/Dereg/Tran8.htmWensveen, J. G. (2007). Air Transport: A Management Perspective (6th Edition). Brookfield: Ashgate Publishing Group.Young, S. B., & Wells, A. T. (2011). Airport Planning and Management (6th Edition). na: McGraw-Hill.