BahrainLad you really are wearing my patience thin. Do the names Fedex, Tower Air, Polar Air Cargo or UPS support your argument for running an airline without cabin crew? As I stated earlier, MANY of the unskilled jobs are able to be outsourced and replacement workers brought in within a matter of days.
Now, you said "Take engineering for example. Why is it that when I come as SLF to BAH on a BA 777, invariably the cover of the GE90 pops open and there are people looking at the engine? Surely not, if maint. only happens every couple of weeks.
My guess is that it is either (a) engineering staff familiarisng themselves with the 777, and/or (b) artisans - and isn't that word salt in the wounf for lames - checking fluid quantities.
What about the BA Engineer that flys BAH-DOH-BAH every day. Does he do this for the good of his health?
He is there IN CASE that particular aircraft on which he is paxing, requires work that only HE - as a 777 rated lame - can perform/oversee, and sign off. But ONE aeroplane going u/s won't ground the entire airline. And for as long as the aircraft continue to fly without developing any major problems, or requiring any scheduled maintenance, the mechanics can sit back and enjoy paxing around without getting any grease under his fingernails. If perchance he carks it enroute, it's not going to ground the aeroplane. Same cannot be said for EITHER of the pilots.