NWT - 100% correct - the LAME preflight is not a luxury.
This is just another example of the regulatory regime being eroded in order to pander to airlines crying poor.
It will, like other safety processes that have been cut, ultimately end up in a coroner's report.
The SMS however will evade the Directors and CEO liability.
It is way past the time for the Minister to wake up and tug on the delegations lead.
Re: the wheel.
Heard a comment the a/c previously took a bit of a serious shunt from the aerobridge at pier F (like the 737 earlier this year) ? Any confirmation of the incident? - then of course the question is was it reported?