Originally Posted by
Homelover
pouring over what is available on line,
Which reminds me of the various Boards of Inquiry discussed here, where MoD flatly denied the existence of key policies and documents, only for the likes of DV and others to simply download them and submit them to Coroners Walker and Masters, Haddon-Cave and Lord Philip.
"We never heard of ESF until after XV179 crashed in 2005". Mr Masters was most interested in the 1990 specifications, downloaded from MoD's website.
Air Staff - "There is no such thing as a Release to Service". Lord Philip probably though it quite amusing to be sent a copy of the Air Staff copy.
Chinook ZD576 - "We don't have the policy on Safety Critical Software". Here we go.... handed out to every MoD avionic project manager, and here's the Def Stans that reflect these Ministerial edicts. Oh, and here's the author, a retired Sqn Ldr.
And the classic e-mail plea from Lord Philip. "MoD don't have the policy document that sets out the No Doubt Whatsover rule. Can you provide a copy?" Every addressee sent him a copy.
And quite recently - We carried out a thorough investigation and there is no evidence of MoD knowing how to ensure the ejection seat works. Well, apart from a 107 minute RAF training film found on the internet along with a raft of comprehensive APs. How can a thorough investigation fail to even ask the question, or Google "ejection set + training". Did no one 'challenge the assumption' (and later statement under oath) that between 1952 and 2011 no one in MoD was taught how to ensure a parachute deployed?
The people who sat on those Boards were no doubt very good at their day jobs. But not one of them got remotely near the root causes. And true Subject Matter Experts weren't allowed near the Boards. And then the reports were 'independently' scrutinised and issued by those allowed to judge their own case. And no, of course this doesn't apply to all Boards. But it does to the cases DV is discussing.
Who benefitted?
Play the ball, not the man. Let's hear your views on the above examples.