Anthill,
Ok, happy to stand corrected on the engine failure. But, whether a twin engine is just as safe as a 4 engine jet is not the point. Under normal operating circumstances I entirely agree with you. But the issue here is whether outsourced engine maintenance results in a far higher risk of failure, as Ben's column implies, and if it did then a twin engine jet would be far riskier than a 4 engine jet. And if you were genuinely worried about the dangers of outsourced engine maintenance, as Ben seems to be, then you should surely be most concerned about those using it on twin engine jets.