Originally published at: DOT Watchdog Faults FAA Oversight Of SkyWest Maintenance Practices - AVweb
A federal watchdog report has found that the FAA failed to fully address long-standing maintenance oversight issues at SkyWest Airlines.
What does all this mean in terms of safety? In other words, is it safe to fly on a SkyWest regional flight? Does this have any impact on the legacy carriers for which SkyWest flies?
What it means is that even though the aircraft you are on is painted in Delta, United or American’s paint scheme, you are riding on a regional jet that operates separately from the mainline carrier. Regionals operate under their own operating certificate with their own pilots, dispatchers and mechanics. Even if they are owned by a major, operationally they are a separate carrier. They experience higher employee turnover which generally means their employees have less experience than employees at mainline carriers. You have to decide whether that makes them less safe than a major.
Yes, I know all that. My question has to do with this: Does the DOT report imply in any way that SkyWest is unsafe, and does this report affect in any way the carriers for whom SkyWest flies?
Ironic because SkyWest is widely considered to have better maintenance than the other regionals, better even than mainline. Very few maintenance issues, for how old the fleet is, and competent maintenance staff. Funny how the FAA often finds the wrong tree to bark at… When was the last time a SkyWest landing gear fell off, or door blew off? 
It increases risk.
‘Safe’ is on a scale.
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