First to be publicly criticised and forced to admit it could do better was the FAA.  Now it’s Transport Canada. Both regulatory bodies have been severely criticised for their approach to regulating the industry and maintaining standards. Concerns have also been raised that “regulators have become too cosy with the industry” and that the pressure from industry to allow for more self regulation is resulting in serious safety lapses.

Yet the reports did not come as any surprise to AEI who have been commenting for some time now that regulatory oversight could and should be much improved. With such reports now confirming our view, how can industry be taken seriously when it says that “safety is their prime concern”? 

If industry as a whole is serious about their safety responsibilities then the failings
highlighted in reports such as these must be completely eliminated. With the reports now in the public domain it should become clear to citizens of all countries that the trend towards industry self regulation must be reversed immediately before innocent lives are needlessly lost.

AEI has long considered that the problem is widespread and it will only be a question of
time before more National Authority names are added to the list.

The AEI article entitled “Paper Tigers” highlighted exactly this issue.

 Paper Tigers