USAFAN, my comments were meant to recognize the statistical reality that even the 'worst' airlines have hull-loss and fatality rates far better than alternative modes of transportation.

Perhaps I should have clarified that when I refer to 'airlines,' I am referring to operations governed by FAR Part 121 (or the overseas equivalent) which regulates US domestic and flag air carriers , [i]and not[/b] commuter operations governed by FAR Part 135 which regulates commuter and on-demand operations. There is a huge difference between those two sections in the requirements for equipment, pilot certification, and general operations.

The result is that Part 135 operations cost-effectively serve a larger number of cities and towns because they are far easier to capitalize than Part 121 operations, but with an attendant increase in various sorts of incidents and accidents. However, on any absoulte basis, Part 135 operations are still not all that bad.