Ian, as an Engineer of over 30 years standing, the phrase about Pilots puting pressure on Engineers is frankly ridiculous, never once has any pilot(Capt.or FO) ever even hinted to me that I should sign off a defective aircraft so that they can fly it! it really just shows what you and your fellow journos know or indeed think of our industry and may I suggest that you ditch your "source" as they obviously have about as much knowledge of the industry as you have, further you try to justify your enquiry by informing us of your previous programs I would assume by the initial question that they would be as ill informed as this one looks likely to be.
