No, this is relatively new. This is the result of decades of the quest to "dismantle the regulatory state". The book Flying Blind is a thorough account of how

No, this is relatively new. This is the result of decades of the quest to "dismantle the regulatory state". The book Flying Blind is a thorough account of how Boeing transformed from a respectable engineering shop to a business-school-jock-run FAA revolving door. Unabated capitalism sort of doesn't work when your planes are losing pieces mid-air and Airbus is eating your dinner. Not surprisingly, there are solid arrows leading to GE and Jack Welch.