Good post Barkingmad.
The cost cutting HAS affected safety and the CAA and EASA don't appear to give a damn. Proposals are under way to get rid of the engineers licence completely - can we see where that's going to end up?
The failings in this incident highlight the erosion in standards over the years.
The removal of the engineer from the PDI.
The dilution of the licensing system to suit EASA and the airlines.
BA's obsession with "A" licence working and "self-motivation" without proper supervision by a "B" licence engineer.
I stood up in the crew room and told them 10 years ago!
No one listened then........but someone got a bonus I'm sure.