The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) had which primary role?

• A. Make safety rules and economic regulation of the airlines
• B. Manage air traffic control
• C. Set aviation taxes
• D. Fund airport construction

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is understanding what the Civil Aeronautics Board was responsible for: regulating civil aviation with a focus on safety standards and how airlines operated economically. The CAB set safety rules for aircraft and crews and also controlled economic aspects of airlines, such as route approval and fare or entry regulation. This dual role defined its primary function.

Air traffic control, for example, is handled by the Federal Aviation Administration, not the CAB. Aviation taxes are collected by government revenue bodies, and funding for airport construction comes from programs run by DOT/FAA, not CAB. So the CAB’s core duty was to establish safety rules and regulate the economic activities of the airlines.