Spey
"You still haven't said if you would take personal liability for a RJ coming down in the middle of Lincoln; are you man enough to take on the challenge?"
Nope, and the challenge in itself is indicative of the problem.
If there is a one in a million chance of something happening, then it will eventually happen.
Should the man who made the decision to take a one in a million risk be penalised because it eventually happens?
No, the world should sit back and say "Sh1t Happens"
This idea that commanders should have personal liability if a reasonable risk is taken and the unlikely happens is stupidity and is calcifying our militaries ability to fight.
It is easy to see in todays military that nearly all commanders are becoming risk averse. They are constantly worried about going to jail rather than winning.
"Do you really want to return to the days of 1952 because that is what you are advocating"
I have never advocated that actually, but a quick glance at the graph I posted earlier would make 1968 seem optimum. The big easy gains have been made. The low hanging fruit have been plucked, but we still have the ability to operate.
Every year after that has been totally ineffective at reducing accidents at a growing cost to capability.