Questions hovering over Boeing’s safety record

sir – I built my own aircraft in my garage. It took me eight years, and an extraordinary amount of training and study was required. I had to perfect new skills, and at every stage of the process I was examined and my work checked.

I flew the aircraft all over the world for 10 years without any maintenance or other issues. I fulfilled all the airworthiness directives and carried out maintenance myself.

I have visited Boeing’s facilities in America many times and been impressed by the company’s “can-do” attitude. It has been a major contributor to civil and military aviation.

However, I was not surprised by your report (February 20) that debris had been found in the fuel tanks of grounded 737 Max jets, in the wake of two fatal crashes. While I admire the scale of Boeing’s operations, its accounting for tools, equipment, components, materials and work done always left me with the impression that something could go wrong.

During my aircraft-building days, my garage was like an operating theatre. Every tool had a clear storage place, all items were accounted for and each period of work was logged. I was accountable to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, but ultimately my safety was in my hands.

At Boeing, I was surprised to see each worker wheel out a personal toolbox at the start of their shift. Each airframe had an army of people crawling all over it with what seemed like casual professionalism.

Boeing, like many big businesses, is focused on profit – and, while it may proclaim that safety is its top priority, recent events cast doubt on this. Cost-cutting in any industry where safety is critical leads to safety being compromised. A cosy relationship with a regulator can make things worse.

I do not recommend your readers build their own aircraft – but mine was the safest I have ever flown in.

Dr Michael A Fopp

Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire