Wearing a nomex suit and a green rollneck shirt isn't going to provide any sort of flight safety at all! When the Chinook BBQ starts, fueled by at least 5 tonnes of aviation fuel, how long do you think that a Mk 15 will stop you burning for?
When the nasty men come to ask questions who would you sooner be? Flt Lt Knowitall or Pte Greyman!!
The real question is of insurance! How many times have you seen a colleague climb into an aircraft with unauthorised kit on? If there were to be an accident you can bet that some slimey Govt Lawyer would try to stop your family/loved ones getting any compensation due, just because you were too smart to dress correctly. JHC has given authority for a far more practical dress. Especially now that the SHF are getting to the sharp end a lot more. More importantly the ones left behing are now safeguarded.
FJJP - Things have, as you say changed a bit since you left! Nobody in JHC is changing the regs willy nilly. The regs and the proviso for wearing combat clothing was agreed at Tri-Service level. Way above ossie's pay scale!!!
At the end of the day - "Shut Up and Get On With It"
Bloody Whinging Aircrew.
