What federal agency is responsible for rules governing air travel? Do they apply to both commercial and private planes?

The Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) is responsible for implementing the Federal Aviation Regulations (“FAR”).  For purposes on federal regulations, aviation includes activities from commercial and private planes and helicopters to hot-air balloons and model rockets.  The overall agenda of the federal regulations aviation division is to protect the interests of national security by protecting the airspace of the country.  Included in the FAR provisions are laws related to the maximum weight of an airplane, the type of cargo a plane can carry, the airspace a plane can and can’t travel in as well as the types of licenses a pilot must have to operate different airplanes.  The regulations include Airworthiness Directives that are aimed at ensuring passenger and aircraft safety and are subject to change by the FAA.  To find out which federal regulations apply, visit the FAA website and search by your particular plane model or series number.