I. Summary Otherwise known as the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, Sen. McCarran and Clarence Lea were the two individuals to see this act to the finish line. Sen. McCarran introduced this legislation to the senate in 1934, with the attempt at regulating the economics and safety aspects of aviation (Carlson, 1996). Instead, the act was denied, and the McKellar-Black Air Mail Act was passed, designed to extend temporary airmail contracts for an indefinite period. As a result of this law and specifications of setting the rate per mile, the industry lost money. The airlines and Sen. McCarran wanted centralized regulation as the Airmail Act of 1934 was said to be “cumbersome, divisive, and increasingly ineffective.” (Lawrence, 2015). Finally, …show more content…
Both big and small businessmen desired regulation to stabilize the industry (Carlson, 1996). IV. Development of Alternative Actions Alternative Action 1. Not pass the CAA. Advantages. Few advantages exist. Less regulation meant more freedom for pilots who were used to doing things their way. Disadvantages. The Civil Aeronautics Authority, the Administrator of Aviation and the Air Safety Board wouldn’t have been created. These three agencies delivered economic stabilization through their purpose during this era which airlines needed to stay afloat. Alternative Action 2. Only establish the Civil Aeronautics Authority. Advantages. All matters aviation would be contained and handled under one roof. The CAA inherited all former federal agencies that regulated commercial aviation through Pres. Roosevelt’s Executive Order. As a result, the CAA was fully staffed as it inherited 3,347 positions and created 441 new jobs (Carlson, 1996). Disadvantages. For example, safety and accident investigations would become a matter of conflict, where the agency may identify some facts during a safety investigation while another accident investigator may identify something contrary. Lines of responsibility aren’t identified under one