Airplane safety has come a long way. However, the current situation is one where we still have catastrophic disasters where hundreds of people lose their lives.
I propose that all new Airplanes be required to have a detachable cabin with external parachutes and simple guidance and landing systems (within the next three years). I got this idea after watching astronauts return to earth in capsules, surely the same can be done for Airplanes that do not fly as high. Most plane disasters are issues surrounding the wings and the engines. If the cabin can be protected many lives can be saved. I understand that there are many technical challenges with planes traveling at 350 mph, but with the backing of the government these challenges can be overcome.