Surely you jest sir! This is the best industry that money can buy. There is 40 years of rapacious investor appetite being counterbalanced by technical improvements in the operation and systems, and we hit a plateau some time back when it became noticeable to passers by that the pilots cannot fly planes any longer. The last 20 years we have poked smoking holes in the ground, punters have exclaimed in shock and indignation and then gone and paid the lowest amount that arbitrage of safety can buy.
Upshot is, the management system became reliant on unwavering compliance with procedures that sometimes help and sometimes hinder the task at hand. Consider the last time that you as an operating crew member had full compliance with all the rules that exist for your operation. Before anyone exclaims that we (you) are better than that, consider the last long haul flight you did out of say, JFK, where there were 165 pages of NOTAMS, and the crew had at least 10 minutes to plan for a 16 hour flight across the pole, in ETOPS or EDTO, in LVTO, with diversion fields in Siberia etc... The rules are meaningful when they can be applied readily, not requiring a QC to interpret the FDTL, FCL, and the rest of the BS that adds to the ZFW of the plane.
Considering how many operations out there are punitive, a long time back a disgruntled resident showed his/her displeasure with the local government by planting a rather large fireworks/ stick of gelignite outside of the govt chambers at night. The next morning, the doors were well askew. The local police were soon on the crime scene, and after a short while, the mayor asks the investigators if he has any suspects. The investigator leant over a counter and grabbed the local phonebook, handed to the mayor and said, "anyone between the covers".
Punitive culture is what the industry has developed. CRM, TEM, MEDA, and the rest of the acronyms are lipstick on the pig, there for show.
Wish the world was different, but there it is. Aviation is big money flows, with low margins, and the culture is a consequence of the reality.
As Captain Sullenberger recalled reading an article written by a retiring airline pilot (paraphrasing) : "Once we were recruited and trained for our judgement, now we are selected for our compliance"
Precisely correct. Anybody who doesn't understand where the blame will rest, ought familiarise themselves with "Strict Liability" and why it is in the Crimes Act. It is attached to all regulation with respect to those things the Pilot In Command carries the barrow for...
Over time, there has been a lot of distance placed (legally speaking) between senior management and liability. Strangely despite 165 pages of NOTAMS and the like the PIC must still sign stating the aircraft is correctly loaded...