Engines, excellent post as always. Thank you. There is a common theme across all the PPRuNe Military Forum Airworthiness related threads (mercifully at least, this one is not also a Fatal Accident thread). Not only does every thread shine a light on the chronically dysfunctional UK Military Air Safety system, but also on the despicable moves by the MOD to offer scapegoats for its own incompetence. As a rule they go for the deceased aircrew, but failing that, as in this case, they have started electing Civilian Contractors. They chose that target by proxy in the case of Red Arrow Flt Lt Sean Cunningham's tragic death. The deed being done there on their behalf by HSE. Here they have gone for Serco, anything to obscure the gross lack of expertise and knowledge within the MOD and its subsidiary Services.
That is as a direct result of the illegal actions of RAF VSOs in the late 80s/early 90s and the cover up that has been maintained by their successors to the present day. What grounded the ACO gliders extends throughout the UK military airfleet and will continue until UK Military Air Safety is reformed. That means an independent Regulator and Investigator, both of the MOD and of each other. Anything less is mere fudge. Aviation deplores fudge and will kill if that is all it is offered.
Self Regulation Doesn't Work, and in Aviation it Kills!