FAA Is Failing To Report Regional Safety Information

The Federal Aviation Administration is failing an important oversight role to ensure the safety of regional airlines. That's according to the Transportation Department's inspector general. The IG found FAA wasn't making sure large airlines hold their regional partners to the same safety standards. FAA had promised to do so after the 2009 crash of a regional carrier Colgan Air near Buffalo. Nearly half the daily commercial flights are on so-called feeder airlines. They typically hire pilots with far less experience and training than those hired by the big carriers. The IG found that FAA rarely reviews the agreements between major airlines and their regional partners.