Furia,
Regarding FAA’s role in promoting aviation, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 1996 removed the FAA’s dual mandate to both regulate safety and promote industry development. One section of that law entitled “Elimination of Dual Mandate” identifies “safety as the highest priority” and specifically mentions the “elimination of promotion.” I don’t know how that was implemented. Perhaps JimL can weigh-in on that.
HT