Originally Posted by
Jackonicko
OK I'll bite:
The accusation is that Tranche 1 Typhoons are not 'airworthy', or that their safety case is in some way inadequate.
HOW SO?
I'm not sure anyone has said Typhoon T1 is unairworthy. It is for MoD to prove an aircraft airworthy, not for someone to prove it is not. More often than not it can't, and so fleets are being scrapped. In at least three cases because the audit trail has been destroyed. That is no bar to a user with different regulatory requirements, or deeper pockets, buying them up and recertifying them. Sometimes it can be as simple as not putting it to a particular use, or exposing it to a particular risk. Or in some cases, like Gliders, realising that deep pockets aren't required, just someone who can read and implement without interference.
It may be that the T1 is perfectly airworthy, against the UK's stated intent and use, but someone has done his sums and the cost/benefit of keeping it so forced the decision. This is where the difference between maintaining airworthiness, and continuing airworthiness, is most evident. Too many problems can be traced to the former, which we know MoD simply doesn't do well anymore. (A conscious policy decision). The everyday manifestation of this can be seen in many posts here, with aircrew and front line worrying (or moaning) about things that should be completely invisible to them. As Mr Haddon-Cave, and many in MoD before him said, everyone is busy, just not doing their day job.