The regulations (Civil Aviation Regulations) in the 1960's started out as a very small and concise booklet.
This is the only source I could find, it says 62 pages.
It has now become an unwieldly legal tome of almost
3 lbs and over 1000 pages including the AIM (which I include as it is part of the problem). This is a
1658% increase! No one could possibly know it all or comply with it.
As a result, I posit that not a single flight happens in the US without some rule being broken. We are regulated to death!
Yes, gains have been made with regulation, no doubts about that.
However do
Not try to tell me it has been without cost. Mainly in freedoms. But also in the constant anxiety (such as this thread) it causes in the pilot community.
Lastly and most importantly, there is no end in sight. What limit is on the FAA to make new regulations? Zero.
And their goal? No more accidents. Anyone see a problem here?
I think we must be willing to accept some number of accidents, including associated injury and death as a part of our aviation activity.
Otherwise it will be regulated out of existence and there will be
no
more
general
aviation!