Mid Air Collisions.

The Federal Aviation Act of – 1958

 

1958 Federal Aviation Agency created FAA Sign. President Eisenhower signs the Federal Aviation Act, formally creating the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA).

 

 

Aviation Safety is everybody’s business. So, safety has become always an important subject for study by those who flying. We owe it to ourselves to be as well prepared as possible for every flight we make.

I wrote this post today to continue improving safety in aviation, so over the 80% of the accidents in general aviation are caused by pilot error. But, I want to emphasize that the term pilot error does not imply that all errors are the fault of the pilot. Sometimes other external circumstances are the cause.

This post is about to recollect some history in aviation, The Federal Aviation Act 1958.

The Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938 was basically a constitution of aviation upon which the aviation industry could expand and develop. It was general in character and left the interpretation of the specific nature to the Civil Aeronautics Board in the matter of economics regulation, and to the Civil Aeronautics Administration in the area of adherence to Air Safety.

The Federal Aviation Act of 1958, however, is not entirely new, it is largely a reenactment, in amendment form, of the prior Civil Aeronautics Act.

With the enactment of the Department of Transportation in 1966, the Federal Aviation Agency became the Federal Aviation Administration and was placed under the Secretary of Transportation.

The Federal Aviation Agency was granted expanded authority in Air Safety.

Mid Air Collisions

 

 

TWA Flight 2 was a Lockheed Super Constellation

 

The circumstances which led to the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 were a series of Mid Air Collisions, some of which involved military aircraft. These highlighted the need for improved Air Traffic Control.

The first of these accidents occurred on June 30, 1956, over the Grand Canyon. The aircraft involved were a Trans World Airlines Constellation and a United Airlines DC-7. Both aircraft fell into the Canyon.

TWA Flight 2 left Los Angeles International Airport at 9:00 a.m., bound for Kansas City, and three minutes later, bound for Chicago, UAL Flight 718 took off from the same runway.

At 10: 31 a.m. Flight 2 and Flight 718 collided over the Grand Canyon.

The probable cause, according to the official Civil Aeronautics Board Accident Report, was that the pilots did not see each other in time to avoid the collision. It is not possible to determine why the pilots did not see each other, but the evidence suggests any one, or a combination of the following factors, intervening clouds, visual limitations, preoccupation with normal cockpit duties, attempting to provide passengers with a more scenic view, physiological limits to human vision, or insufficient of en route air traffic advisory information due to inadequacy of facilities and lack of personnel in air traffic control.

The second accident involved a DC-7B owned by Douglas Aircraft Company and a USAF F-89J near Sunland California on January 31, 1957. The DC-7B crashed into a junior high school playground killing three students and injuring 70 others. The F-89J crashed in the Verdugo Mountains.

The probable cause was the high rate of near head on closure at high altitude, which, together with physiological limitations, resulted in a minimum avoidance, opportunity during which the pilots did not see the others aircraft.

The third accident, involved a United Airlines DC-7 and a USAF F-100F near Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 21, 1958.

The probable cause of this mishap, according to Civil Aeronautics Board investigation, was a high rate of near head on closure at high altitude, human and cockpit of the Nellis Air Force Base and the Civil Aeronautics Administration to take every measure to reduce a known collision exposure.

These accidents and other occurrences caused Congressional action.

 Remember, improving your ability to learn, always Fly Safely.