The media makes me sick with their speculation and assumptions

These are FACTS right from the NTSB press conference

- Plane was dispatched knowing there was only light-moderate icing in the Buffalo area.

- Deicing equipment activated 11 minutes after takeoff and remained on.

- NEVER was "severe icing" ever reported by ATC for the area.

- FAA has no such regulation on not using the autopilot in icing.

- Colgan has no policy that the pilots must handfly in all icing conditions

-Bombardier has no limitation or restriction on the use of the autopilot in anything but severe icing.

-The NTSB made a recommendation to the FAA about hand flying in icing but the FAA never listens to the NTSB (see pilot fatigue) and made no regulation based on the NTSB report.

-The autopilot was disengaged by the pilot and full power was applied to try and regain altitude.

-The use of the autopilot is ENCOURAGED in bad weather to aid the crew in dealing with the high workload encountered when flying in poor weather.

The report so far is the crew did NOTHING against regs, company policy, manufactuer policy, etc.

Maybe the media can stop smearing the names of these good people.