Vee r,
Once again, I would like to dissent. The problem is not a lack of regulation. Part 135 is pretty comprehensive. Besides, the society in the US is allergic to govt. intervention in business and the FAA has to walk that fine line between regulating and promoting air commerce.The companies are ruthless. They will cut corners in equipment,salaries and aircraft maintenance as far as possible to maintain the 1:475 ratio of earnings of worker to CEO that has become so much a part of the US captalistic culture.Also, a suddden spurt of onerous regulations mandating equipment that is expensive and,given the dubious helath care reimbursement rates here,will probably put a lot of companies out of business and put a lot of pilots out in the street. Once again, a prickly scenario which the FAA is loath to get into.
What is the solution? Self regulation. Foremost by us in the trenches,followed by the companies,individually and as a group and possibly, an agency (not the FAA) that can oversee HEMS ops. Kind of like the USFS does for the firefighting industry.Not great but better than what we have now.
SASLess,
With due respect, comparing the accident rate of a low volume, low risk tolerant nation like Canada with the high volume,high risk tolerant nation like ours is a non starter. The accident rate of Sun Country Airlines compares very favorably with that of American or United or Delta or Continental. Does it mean that Sun Country is safer or does it mean they don't fly a lot given their fleet size compared to the legacy carriers?
Alt3.