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Original Vintage 1969 FAA & U.S. Department of Transportation Airport Warning Standee
Up for sale/sale is a rare and historically significant piece of aviation history: an original 14x11 inch cardboard standee sign issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation circa 1969.
Designed to be prominently displayed at airport boarding gates and terminals, this stark warning placard reads:
"AIRCRAFT HIJACKING IS A FEDERAL CRIME PUNISHABLE BY DEATH"
"CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPONS ABOARD AIRCRAFT IS PUNISHABLE BY PRISON SENTENCES & FINES"
"PASSENGERS AND BAGGAGE SUBJECT TO SEARCH"
This artifact represents a critical turning point in commercial aviation history, capturing the exact moment the United States government initiated strict security measures to combat the escalating skyjacking epidemic. An exceptional and museum-worthy piece for collectors of aviation memorabilia, political history, or mid-century Americana.
Maker Bio: The FAA & U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): Established under the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (and integrated into the newly formed U.S. Department of Transportation in 1967), the FAA is the national authority responsible for regulating and overseeing all aspects of civil aviation in the United States. During the late 1960s, the agency faced immense pressure to secure American skies, leading to the creation of specialized anti-hijacking task forces and experimental passenger-screening profiles.
U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT): A federal cabinet-level department established by an act of Congress in 1966, the USDOT officially began operations on April 1, 1967, overseeing agencies like the FAA to coordinate national transport safety policies.
Relevant Historic Information & Interesting Facts
The "Golden Age" of Skyjacking: The late 1960s and early 1970s saw an unprecedented wave of commercial aircraft hijackings—often referred to as the "Skyjacking Epidemic"—with a staggering 40 hijackings occurring in the United States alone in 1969 (many of which were forcibly diverted to Havana, Cuba).
The Death Penalty Deterrent: Under federal laws enacted prior to and during this era, air piracy carried severe penalties, up to and including the death penalty, due to the catastrophic risk posed to hundreds of lives in flight.
Pre-TSA Security: Before the mandatory, universal magnetometer screening and X-ray machines instituted in 1973–1974, airport security relied heavily on psychological behavior profiles, federal air marshals, and blunt warning placards like this one to deter would-be criminals.
