Normal procedure in Europe for years. Why do you need an aircraft engineer to drive a pushback and place chocks, a waste of highly paid resources.
Why do you indeed?
If that's ALL you want done and and nothing else, then in Europe you get what you ask for.
Normal procedure in Europe? If so, it does not make it RIGHT, but I suspect that there is MORE being asked of the wrong people.
A waste of highly paid resources? Defects picked up early can be repaired a lot cheaper than those picked up late. ("stitch in time")
The redundancy features in the design of the aircraft is the first line of defence in the event of a failure. It is NOT a something on which the business model for the operation of the aircraft can be based. It's unfortunate to see some operators do.
Cessna Pete, if you are an airline pilot, and in Europe, I suggest you pay very close attention to pre flights if you only have baggage handlers present.