Originally Posted by
seven6
I was addressing the issue that was brought up earlier, on this forum and in the media that the last 7 fatal crashes took place at the regional level and that pay/retirement (and fatigue for that matter) was a topic of interest to the NTSB and the public.
Originally Posted by
Trip7
Negative ghost rider. Unless American 587(260 fatalities)in NYC, and American 1420(12) in LIT are counted as regionals.
Not to mention the almost fatal CAL DEN crash when a highly experienced Captain decided to correct the FO being off centerline with the tiller during the T/O roll. That turned out just wonderful...
The NTSB stated yesterday, on the record as part of the Colgan hearings, that
seven of the last eight investigations they have been involved with have been with "regional carriers".
That is likely what 'seven6' is referring to.
I don't think anyone would say that 'regionals' are up to the same standard as majors/mainline: more resources, better safety culture, more experienced crews, and even safer destinations (radar environments, precision approaches, etc) - a major is a better operation.
Hopefully industry and unions will remember that 'one level of safety' is not just a 'cargo' and 'passenger' thing, but is also something that should be seen as applicable to the various levels of passenger carriers. All could use improving, though. There is
never a perfect operation.