Of course, we can just as easily blame the FAA. If it's so hard to establish a differential training program then maybe the re-certification program the FAA requires (to certify a pilot to fly a slightly different aircraft) is too onerous. It's easy for the government to require too much work and seize up innovation, and I think we see that at work here. If the re-certification program wasn't so onerous, we could have seen Boeing put in some new warning conditions, or a better control layout that more clearly indicates the presence and activation of the MCAS, train pilots on that, and have a better, safer, airplane.

The FAA definitely bears some responsibility, but not because the regulation is too stringent, it’s because they looked the other way. Recertification is onerous for a reason; it’s safety we’re talking about, and the result of not being careful enough is exactly what happened, hundreds of deaths. The FAA’s process in this case is already a product of regulatory capture; Boeing is already practically certifying themselves. Lots of reporting on this already; it’s easy to find more info.