The FAA mision no longer includes the promotion of aviation, that changed a few years ago. That was correct, just outdated. Their new mission has been for a few years now "To provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world". http://www.faa.gov/about/Mission/
The real question is, how much safer than the rest of the world do we want to be? I'll take all I can get, if it means more training - sign me up.
The stated mission could well have changed. I was writing from what I remembered without looking it up first.
Regardless, the FAA won't change it's standards unless forced to by external pressure. You can bet that airline industry lobbyists will be standing alongside and in opposition to anyone trying to get them to raise standards. If it will cost the major airlines more money, they are going to oppose it. Perhaps the regional airlines would welcome increased standards imposed on them. Then they would be able justify more comprehensive training as being something that they are forced to do.
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