Sir - I read your comment "Just bad luck?" (Flight International, 13-19 March), which referred to a Royal Air Force British Aerospace Hawk accident.
In my judgement (except for operational reasons), no amount of cost cutting destroys the case for a final check by a suitably trained individual immediately before line-up.
The final check is obviously limited, but, if we are to learn anything at all from history, it can safely be said that aircraft will continue to take off with panels missing, undercarriage locks in, weapons safety-pins in, controls disconnected, wings unlocked, etc.
As a former McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom pilot, for example, I heard in 1984 from another Phantom pilot that he had lined up with the aircraft's wings spread, but not locked. There may very well have been other occasions when this happened.
At a time when demands on a limited resource are continually increased, the incidence of such shortcomings is likely to increase.
Source: Flight International
