FAA Aviation History: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Topic: FAA Aviation History: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
What are you getting out of the FAA, in 40 minutes.

You must register using the link provided. Accepting this meeting on meetup will not get you in the meeting.

Link: https://www.bostonconsultants.org/event-details/faa-aviation-history-yesterday-today-and-tomorrow

Speaker: Bryon H. Rakoff
Retired Aviation Consultant and Federal Bureaucrat
Location: Zoom and Burlington Public Library, 22 Sears St, Burlington, MA 01803, USA - Fogelberg C Room

Open to the public.

Date: March 11, 2026
6:30 PM EST - Networking
6:55 Introductions
7:00 Presentation
7:40 Q/A
8:00 Meeting Ends

In person networking including sandwiches, good snacks, water and fruit drinks. Come just for the networking.

Also on ZOOM.
Your registration email contains the Zoom link.

While most people associate FAA with Air Traffic Control, the agency is involved in all aspects of aviation, including airport development, pilot training, aircraft design and operations. In this talk, we'll introduce an insider’s view to how FAA works, and how accidents led to dramatic change for aviation and at the FAA, aircraft, and airports.

The FAA role continues to grow, as new technology - such commercial space operations, drones, and alternative fuels – evolves. This effort requires a significant investment. Last year the FAA invested $4 billion in aviation infrastructure at hundreds of airports nationwide. FAA research and development efforts annually exceed $250 million. Congress recently committed over $12.5 billion to begin a comprehensive overhaul of our safe but ageing Air Traffic Control (ATC) system. We'll answer how the FAA is addressing these investments and if it's paying off for us citizens.

A significant amount of these funds requires private sector contracts and specialized consultant expertise. Much of this work focuses on civil engineering, but aeronautical, IT, electrical, mechanical, software, computer and systems, and other engineering skills are required. This represents an opportunity for qualified consultants.

This Talk will include:

• Broad overview of FAA: its history, mission, and structure
• Evolution of the agency from its first days, and how its growth (and accidents) are linked to the development of our air transportation system
• Fundamental roles of FAA’s internal divisions
• Focus on the Airports Division and its substantial grant program
• Recently announced FAA reorganization, and what the future may hold for aviation and FAA

At the end of this presentation, attendees will gain a the scope of the aviation industry, the ongoing mission of FAA and its responsibilities, and future challenges to the industry and the agency.

Bryon H. Rakoff Biography:

Mr. Rakoff is an aviation consultant with 45 years of experience. In the private sector, his work includes major planning and environmental studies at airports ranging in size from international hubs to small regional airports. He spent over 30 years in the private sector, and 13 years as Deputy Manager with the FAA’s Airports Division. In 2020, Mr. Rakoff was an Ambassador for the Airports Cooperative Research Program (ACRP). Mr. Rakoff has a BS in Civil Engineering and a Master of Transportation Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).