Standards are plummeting everywhere and are set to worsen if EASA and the big airlines get their way.The last two or three years have seen an acceleration in the decline of standards with the outsourcing of everything to the cheapest possible option.EASA are currently planning to scrap licenced engineers altogether to be replaced with "appropriately approved" people.So an airline or maintenance organisation will be able to get any cheap herbert and give them a stamp.I sadly have to agree with an earlier poster in that things will not improve until we have our own Kings Cross or worse.The CAA are emasculated and seemingly blind to the obvious,we are at the mercy of EASA and that is not a comfortable place to be.