The Tombstone mentality of law-making is necessary so that we can learn from our mistakes. However, it is an inferior mentality if the desired outcome is fewer accidents in our skies. This is because many accidents can be prevented by a little forethought and precautionary action. But we must always ask ourselves, how can we be safer? Is there another way to create laws and help prevent accidents and unnecessary deaths? I think that one additional law making mentality should be technology enabling such as subcities for related companies. In other words setting up a fund for companies developing promising technologies. One such example is an improved autopilot system known as "Dragonfly." The company Autobus is developing this advanced assistance program to help with everything from landing and take off to in cruise avoidance (Airbus Test New...). This will be crucial to consistency and safety. I also think that that leaves ample room for us pilots to do our jobs.

When it comes to which method of law making mentality is better, obviously its precautionary. This tombstone mentality kind of law making is prone to allowing more than one accident to occur before action is taken. Its a 'hind-sight is 20-20' mentality and you can't go back and change the past. Recently the FAA has come under fire for having a tombstone mentality about drones. They haven't been very strict on drone usage and flight plans are not entered for those drones. Up to 700 near encounters between drones and airplanes occur on a yearly basis(AS/FAA...). Instead of making laws on regulations for drones the FAA has taken a more teach and educate path to try and prevent these occurrences. It clearly has not been working and these interactions between drones and planes are only going to become more frequent, if the FAA doesn't regulate it, as the popularity of drones rise. Once an accident occurs from a drone and a plane engine coliding, it will be a tombstone law.

 

Do you agree with this? Why or why not ?