The FAA sets the minimum standard. The FAA also approves all training events to be demonstrated and trained in simulator or the aircraft.
Prior to degregulation, ie.. prior to 1978, every major airline was far more conservative in just about every area than the FAA minimum standard. As an example most major airlines had duty day limits of 12 to maybe 14 hours not 16 extendable to what ever. Late night hours were often limited to 10 or less hours. Crew rest was a minimum of 11 or 12 hours, with some reduction for very short flow on days. Of course in 1978 regional airlines were unknown or just begining to show. Only PBA comes to mind. (And that one failed due to its own stupidity and greed.)
Maximum flight hours per month were historically in the mid 70's. Maximum workdays fell somewhere for a line holder between 12 and 14 days. There were lots of three days on, four days off. Reserve was maybe 16 days with a minimum hourly pay just short of a line holder.
Today...its to what ever the FAA sets as the minimum.
This accident, I would suggest, the major contributor is the FAA. The group who oversees Cogan's FAA POI, (primary operations inspector) hold just as much liablility as the crew members operating that ill-faited aircraft.
As deregulation grabbed hold the added safety rules of all majors started the slow transition to the FAA minimum standards.
Of course it was the need for the company to ink out some profit that drove these give-back, that had been hard fought for, by the pilot groups, in the 1960's and 70's.
Just a few of my thoughts on the subject.
