[theYipster]

The FAA and EASA have very different operating models, so budgets are not comparable. FAA certification efforts are tax-payer funded, whereas EASA’s efforts are funded by industry in a pay-for-service model.

[rswail]

Regulators paid by the industry they regulate is the most obvious of perverted incentives that I can think of.

Air transport safety supervision and regulation should be paid for by those using it, ie by taxes on the end user.