Reread:
The Herald understands that, after reading it, he dubbed senior pilots from 171 Squadron "cowboys"
So thats 'allegedly he dubbed them cowboys'. I thought no one on PPRuNe believed what a journo writes!
Having said that if there is a safety culture problem - its down to the leadership of the people at the top surely. This is a good read:
http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/84989...ournal2008.pdf, especially the Target Zero article.