The aircrew can't see in the intakes so are they supposed to drag steps across the pan or should there be a cherry picker on hand?
They do check things they can see - such as for leaks, tyres and loose panels etc but when do you take the word of the ground crew that an aircraft is handed over as fit for flight and when do you start taking panels off in case something has not been connected inside?
Sorry, I don't inhabit this section of pprune much, and had assumed - wrongly, that language here was not that specific. So let me clarify. Clearly engine intakes must always be checked before start up. In the case of a flight, that means the engines must be checked pre flight. However, I agree that for the Vulcan, a signed up B/F used to suffice. That said, I remember one crew member who was meticulous on his walk round; it wouldn't have surprised me at all if I had seen him perched on a safety raiser, looking down an intake.
I promise to be more careful with my wording if I comment in AH&N again!