In 1958, the Federal Aviation Act created the FAA, an independent agency combining scattered safety responsibilities. Above: on November 1, 1958, Elwood R. Quesada took the oath as FAA's first Administrator. A retired Air Force general, Quesada had served as President Eisenhower's special aviation advisor.he Birth of FAA. As the age of jet airline travel approached, many Americans recognized the need for more concerted effort to safeguard civil aviation.