Originally Posted by
Rigga
Slating the maintenance companies is both stupid and ignorant.
The core issue is the poor RAF/MOD contracts which approve (and possibly instruct) those maintenance companies to destroy vital historic documentation within that contracts regulatory bounds. UK fighter aircraft are operated in a similar way but, in my experience, those contractors are smarter than the MOD/RAF idiots 'in charge' who would still want the document destroyed. Those contractors know that to throw away ANY documentation is to discard evidence should the MOD turn on them...as they regularly do.
Aircraft engineers and technicians are not stupid and not idiots. Their integrity keep you flying. They can read contracts and always abide by the regulations required (MAA/EASA, etc.) - its their livelihood. And they mostly make profits because they can write contracts too.
Wasn't there a 'problem' with a few Tornados about 15 years ago? Contractor (I believe but may be wrong) was Airwork.