VH-XXX,
the chance of an incidents and accidents happening is purely a numbers game proportional to the safety programs and defences you have in place. What you will find is simply the more hours you fly the more incidents one can expect to have.
If you think Qantas is incidentless then you are very mistaken. A quick look at the ATSB web site should inform you as to the true state of operations. Its only because systems and methods are in place to help avoid such occurences happening which is why we dont have Qantas jet falling out of the sky. Thailand is a great example when the safety net failed, while the 737 GPWS warning a couple of years back are tactile ways in which one can view the basics of system safety.
CASA goes through vast strides to ensure that when there is such a large propect for loss of life that these are implemented. Unfortunatly the risks and consequences involved in high capacity RPT far outweigh that of a C152 and therefore CASA focuses on the pointy end of the stick. If it were a BASAIR aircraft that would mean what, 4 or 5 in the last 12 months that are not purely "training" accidents. When this punches you in the face the regulator must and should act to ensure the continued safety of BASAIR's staff and students.
It may not be DW's fault, hell the Tecnams are flying washing machines with crap engines and toothpicks for propellers. But maybe some persoanl culpability has to be taken to ensure safety, and this does include the selection and choice of maintenance operations. I know DW is the first to point the finger at maintenance, and rightly so but there must come a time when enough is enough. DW is a business man and knows well and truely how much bad publicity can affect a business such as his.
VH-XXX your are right though..... there is one born everyday
