Due to mandates, the FAA globally conducts certain functions for safety in and outside of the United States, such as performing air traffic control handoffs and assessing whether a foreign civil aviation authority complies with international aviation standards.

No, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a United States government agency and only has direct legal jurisdiction over civil aviation within the United States. However, because of the U.S.'s massive influence on the global aviation industry, the FAA’s regulations (Federal Aviation Regulations, or FARs) are often used as the "gold standard" upon which other countries model their own laws. Globally, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, is the body that sets the overarching "standards and recommended practices" for international aviation to ensure safety and interoperability across borders. In Europe, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is the primary governing body. While the FAA does not "govern" other countries, it does conduct "International Aviation Safety Assessments" (IASA) on foreign countries to determine if their oversight of their own airlines meets ICAO standards; if a country fails this assessment, their airlines can be restricted from flying into U.S. airspace. So while the FAA's "reach" is global through its influence and safety audits, its "rule" is strictly limited to American territory and U.S.-registered aircraft.