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How fat were the FAR’s of yeasteryear?

Asked by: 4289 views FAA Regulations

This may not be the ideal forum for this question, but who recalls how big a booklet the FAR's constituted "back when"? The first time I got a student certificate, in 1970, it seems the book was about 3/4 inch thick. My dad got his private license in 1948, and I'll bet they were the size of a Marvel Comic then. Does anyone out there have a first-hand recollection of how the FAR's have increased in volume over the years?

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  1. Kent Shook on Oct 24, 2010

    I can’t say it’s from personal recollection as I was born after you got your student certificate and I’ve only been flying for about 8 years, but I have seen a version of the “Air Traffic Rules” from 1926 that is only a single page. If I can find it, I’ll post it here – Most of those original rules, though evolved, are still in place in some form today.

    You can find the original Air Commerce Act of 1926 here: http://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/books-online/aircommerceact1926.pdf

    Another interesting read is “A Brief History of Aviation Regulations” found here: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/22634528/A-Brief-History-of-Aviation-Regulations

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