The 1926 Air Commerce Act established which aspects of aviation the federal government would and would not regulate. Although it was understood that standardization created safety and reliability, the Act did not create standards for airports. Instead, the Department of Commerce created a voluntary rating system aimed to provide objective guidance to municipalities and private companies that wanted to construct or improve facilities.

ACRP Legal Research Digest 48: Legal Issues Concerning the Safety and Security of General Aviation Airports, from TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program, explores legal issues related to safety and security at general aviation airports, with a focus on state regulatory requirements for general aviation airports.