While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) primarily focuses on airline safety, pilot licensing, and overseeing the nation’s air traffic, it also provides resources helpful to individual travelers through their website at www.fly.faa.gov.
The FAA monitors the operational status of all commercial airports across the country and provides an interactive map listing airport delays and details. A quick glance will tell you what airports are running 15 minutes or less behind schedule (green dots), 16-45 minutes (yellow) or are experiencing significant delays or temporary closures (red). Orange dots indicate that inbound flights have been delayed prior to departure.
Actual airline delays tend to be a bit longer than the over-all airport delays, but the map is a good quick indicator to what is happening at your airport or others across the system. The map can be found at http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp.
The FAA will send you free email updates on the status of airports. This is especially helpful if you fly a lot or you manage teams flying out of particular airport. Sign up for the emails at http://www.fly.faa.gov/ais/jsp/ais.jsp.
The FAA handles concern or complaints regarding airlines and airports. They also track and report the on-time departure performance and monitor airline compliance with tarmac delay rules. Travel problems, concerns or complaints can be made by phone 24 hours a day by calling 1-866-TELL-FAA.
In addition, the FAA conducts an assessment of all international airlines that fly to the United States, as well as the aviation authority of each country with carriers operating in the U.S. It does not, however, evaluate the operations of foreign carriers within their own countries as this is against international law.
Finally, the FAA offers several traveler-focused articles and tips. These include safety suggestions such as how to handle turbulence and tips for traveling with children. The children’s section includes help on getting through security screening, using car seats on planes, and more. Those articles can be found at http://www.faa.gov/passengers/.