But they don't have final say on the end product.
An independent agency is just that - separate from the regulator and restricted to publishing proven facts. The industry has experienced two major catastrophes when aircraft were prematurely given the go-ahead to return to service and neither De Havilland nor McDonnell-Douglas exist as separate entities anymore. The lesson taken from those cases is that trying to sweep things under the carpet is more trouble than it's worth.
Last edited by DozyWannabe; 21st Sep 2012 at 22:34.