The next time you're on vacation and your airplane lands successfully, thank Bill Clinton.

[lostnfound]

31. Technocrats at FAA, NTSB, and industry deserve the credit, but you did not mention the MAX.

The commission spent most of its time on security.
Meanwhile, the system built by engineers, inspectors, and pilots at the FAA made aircraft technically better for decades. Thousands of processes, procedures, programs, training requirements, standards, and aircraft modifications were made. For example, engines that used to fail or need shop repairs every year or 18 months were replaced with engines that perform well for 10 years. I am not exaggerating. Another example, interiors have to have nonflammable materials and be tested for smoke and toxicity. Another example, seats have to withstand 16g in a crash without coming out of their tracks to improve survivability.

When Bush was in office they started depleting the FAA, and requiring that any oversight that could be done by corporations themselves be parceled out to industry, away from the FAA. Part of “Ayn Rand” fantasy land, like getting rid of government-employed meat inspectors. As a direct result, much of the certification processes started getting its “oversight” done by Boeing itself, with far less involvement from the FAA. My experience in the 1990s was that FAA people were good at asking “Yeah but what if...?” questions. For example, if they were doing normal level of detailed oversight on the MAX, they might have asked: “This add-on stability system is helpful if the aircraft is stalling, BUT WHAT IF the aircraft has just started its climb and the system engages at low altitude?” Or “WHAT IF the air pressure sensor reading is incorrect?”

BUT WHAT IF...this avionics box fails, this bolt breaks, the same mechanic services both the left side and right side and makes the same mistake on both parts, lightning strikes, etc.

Clinton was a pretty good president but what I just described of competent FAA and NTSB oversight was happening before Clinton because president. The safety net deteriorated a lot during the Bush Jr years due to mandated shrinking of government functions and oversight, and budget constraints.