Who am I to query your work?
The guy who dies if you've got it wrong. Fair enough?
Your absolutely right that I can not cross check everything you do, I don't have time, the tools, or in some cases the skill (I should point out I am also an engineer, I just don't work as one at present). But thats why I have faith in the Engineers that I work with.
Whereas, it is interesting to note from the post above, that you guys think of pilots as (1) having money rather than brains (Schmite), (2) flying as being too easy (dogs body) (it may quite often be, but not always, of that you can rest assured), (3) Unnecessary (lame) and (4) being equivalent to monkeys (marcels minder). Finally we have Hispeedtape whose idea of a civil conversation is to tell me to 'Sod Off'.
I view Engineers as a vital part of the team, but it doesn't look like that view is reciprocated by some of you. Lets assume the comments above were in jest and leave it at that, eh?
Although I do have faith in the guys, its still common sense to cross check when possible. And there have been times, not many I'm happy to say, when the aircraft has not been in an acceptable state, in spite of protestations to the contrary. When that happens, its down to me. My call. The buck stops with me. I am the last guy that can intervene and prevent the aircraft from leaving terra firma in an unsafe condition. And I've had to do it.
Now I'm really sorry (I mean it - I'm not being sarcastic) if that somehow seems to offend some of you, but thats the way it is.
Finally:
A/C slave, as you say I accept the aircraft. To suggest that I can somehow accept the aircraft without implicitly accepting any work that has been carried out on it is pure semantics. Anyhow, I also sign pages that only have maintenance action. And your arguement can be used against you. When I write a tech log report of routine testing (say engine overspeed test) how can you check my work? Does that stop you countersigning? Thought not.
Hispeedtape. You're right, I can't take it until you release it. However, come hell or high water, you can not force me to accept it.
Its a team effort. I appreciate good engineers, and from what i can tell they appreciate detailed fault write ups that ease their fault finding workload.
But the guy that carries the can when it all goes to rat!!!! is the guy with the moral authority to say 'I'm sorry, but I'm not flying that aeroplane'.
Regards,
CPB