Even with private companies, ensuring that 'guaranteed/regulated' profits were plowed back into safety and maintenance maybe a bit of a leap. In a less-regulated environment, where safety violations/incidents would have an incredibly quick and dramatic affect on the fortunes of a company, I believe there is a much bigger incentive for ever increased safety and maintenance standards. Seems perverse to some to place essentially public safety in private hands, but in a less-regulated environment the fear of the financial ruin, if safety became a prevalent concern, is enough of an incentive. Matthew On Thursday, March 20, 2003, at 11:12 AM, Dennis W Zeuch wrote: > damiross2@xxxxxxxxx writes: > >> had nothing to do with being the safest > > In those days most carriers made a profit and didnt have to scimp/cut > maintainance like the do today-I think the system then in place made > for > better maintained acft and safer flying. > Dennis >