Jobsworth et al,
As you may note, I was being deliberately provocative and it stirred up quite a good response.
(BTW, my signature reveals my origins as an ex "Crabfat" - I did 14 years man and boy. When I left the VC10s were still shiny new things and some airlines were actually flying them as well!)
The point I'd like to make is that the qualifications for certification privileges are being continually dumbed down. The reason given is that responsibility for airworthiness should lie with the company rather than with individuals. The company system ensures airworthiness because the system is geared to provide a broader overview than any individual can handle.
This ignores the point that it may be better not to vest control of airworthiness directly in the hands of those who have a financial interest in keeping costs at a minimum. When times are hard, Engineering Departments will always find it hard to resist the pressure from Finance to cut costs to the bone. Finance departments are not equipped or trained to understand airworthines issues. An independant Licenced Engineer has it in his power to refuse to sign a certificate unless he is certain that compliance standards are met. A servant of the company has this right curtailed, he only acts on behalf of the company. Since the certifying engineer or technician only certifies that the company's system has been satisfied, the level of knowledge tested externally is reduced. In fact, since most JAR 175 training schemes are part of company's own in-house systems, companies will soon be responsible for examination standards too!
The end result is a gradual reduction in overall control of standards. Don't underestimate the downward pressure on engineering salaries either!
As some have observed, the people currently applying for licences have experience and qualification levels well above those called for in JAR66. True, but how about the future? Will the military forever turn out 22 year experienced men? Will there always be a supply of experienced men sufficient to meet demand? Bear in mind that JAR66 allows a person to walk into a hangar, off the street as it were, and without formal training he can be certifying airworthiness within 5 years on the strength of passing a few short multi-answer question papers. Think about it.
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Through difficulties to the cinema