Department of Magical Transportation

The Department of Magical Transportation is responsible for various aspects of magical transport. Madam Edgecombe was an employee of this department.

It is located on the sixth level of the Ministry of Magic and includes the following offices:

Floo Network Authority
The Floo Network Authority is responsible for setting up and maintaining the network. They also regulate the distribution of Floo powder.

The network is composed of the fireplaces of all the wizarding buildings, which are interconnected, and it allows the user, or "passenger", to transport themselves to any other fireplace on the network.

The Floo Network is subject to intense scrutiny by the Ministry. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's fireplaces were at one time closely monitored for any "questionable activity."

The Floo Network may sometimes temporarily set up a connection between a wizarding building and a Muggle building. One such temporary connection was put in place between 4 Privet Drive and The Burrow.

Broom Regulatory Control
The Broom Regulatory Control has the authority to determine what factors allow an individual to use and ride a broom. If a broom has been determined to be dangerous or tampered with to cause damage, this office will confiscate the broom.

Portkey Office
The Portkey Office regulates and authorizes objects that are turned into portkeys as well as the network in which they are used. This would be slightly similar to the Floo Network Authority.

During the Quidditch World Cup, the Portkey Office was involved in regulating the thousands of portkeys used to bring witches and wizards to the game.

Apparition Test Centre
The Apparition Test Centre grants Apparition licences to qualified witches and wizards. One must be 17 to obtain such a licence. Licensure is required to prevent the likelihood of splinching. One is usually taught and tested by a qualified Ministry employee, such as is the case at Hogwarts. One such educator in the skill of Apparition was Wilkie Twycross. However, in the case of Side-Along Apparition, the accomplice does not require a licence provided they are taken by a licensed wizard.

Behind the scenes

 * It is unknown if the Knight Bus is regulated by this department.
 * The seal of this department features a Biohazard symbol, maybe in a nod to the dangers entailing each of the four types of transportation (broomstick, Floo powder, Apparition and Portkey.