UPDATED: NY crash puts focus on for-hire flights

The midair collison of a helicopter and a small plane over the Hudson River yesterday has revived a safety issue, one of the many involving transportation that can be overlooked until tragedy strikes. A month ago, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Inspector General criticized the Federal Aviation Administration for lax enforcement of safety rules for so-called "for-hire" flying, or flights in private planes hired by the hour or day. The AP in Washington quickly produced a good story on what had been lightly reported a month ago. Find it here.

UPDATE: The Inquirer has a detailed story today about the local ties of victims of Saturday's accident. Read that one here.