Aeronautics is the theory and practice of navigation through air or space. Aeronautics laws exist on the state, national, and international levels. Aeronautics law ensures the safety of operation of aircraft by providing for operation standards. In order to ensure aircraft air worthiness and environmental protection, aircraft air worthiness certification is carried out. Certification will be granted only to aircraft conforming to the relevant technical standards. The use of aircraft having no air worthiness certification is prohibited. Spare part certification may be issued for equipment essential to the safety of the aircraft. Aircraft repairs may require inspection after such repairs and/or modifications. Some laws also regulate noise levels of aircraft.
In the U.S., the main federal aeronautics laws are administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). These agencies also document and analyze accident data with the goal of identifying and mitigating risk factors. States are prohibited from regulating rates, routes or services of any air carrier authorized under the Federal Aviation Act to provide interstate air transportation. States are not prohibited, however, from enacting consistent laws, or from altering existing remedies under state law.
