6.2 Legislative Acts

The 1925 Air Mail Act (Kelly Act) and 1926 Air Commerce Act 

- From Airmail service to Commercial Aviation industry

   The aviation industry as we know it today is extremely commercialized. But in fact, the foundation of the aviation industry starts with the national postal service. The United States Post Office Department is one of the leading players in the development of the commercial aviation industry. The department ordered planes and hired pilots as well as tested airplanes and training pilots (Richard, E., 2017). In addition, effective routes for the effective distribution of airmail have been mapped across the country. The Kelly Act of 1925 was the first major piece of legislation that affect the aviation industry. This law basically covers the forwarding of government postal contracts to private carriers. This is the moment when commercial aviation has been started. In the competition among these companies, private companies tried to prove that their companies were superior, which led to innovation in air travel.

    1926, Air Commerce Act enacted. Federal makes regulations for aircraft and Air traffic control. Aircraft had to be inspected for its airworthiness. The pilot had to take the test for his knowledge and physical ability. Federal government also started to build navigational facilities as well as build new airport. As the two acts were passed, the foundation of the aviation industry was built. According to "Some Early Pilots"(n.d.), In the past, delivering letters by flight was very risky. There were more than 6500 forced landings in the nine years since the airmail service was launched. Even the pilot's life span was only 900 flight hours. Thirty-two people died, of which four were caught in flames during flight, and 13 were killed by collisions with obstacles. And 10 were oxidized in the fire with the plane while attempting an emergency landing.

    Sometimes change starts with very little things. The mail service, which was operated by the government, has been transferred to the private sector, and the aviation industry has undergone infinite development. The job of being a pilot, now envied by everyone, was actually a job that had to risk death in the past. However, due to the enactment of the two laws, various laws were made and various means for flight developed, creating today's safe flight industry environment.

Richard, E. (2017). How Mail Made Commercial Aviation | National Postal Museum. https://postalmuseum.si.edu/research-articles/airmail-to-airlines/how-mail-made-commercial-aviation

Some Early Pilots | National Postal Museum. (n.d.). Smithsonian National Postal Museum. https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/airmail-in-america/some-early-pilots