“however the BOI is at least based on hard facts…..”.
In an ideal world, this would be true. But I’m afraid there are many examples in this forum where their rulings have, demonstrably, been based on incorrect or incomplete information. Also, it is crystal clear that BOIs take an enormous step back when they come across something that could upset the political imperative or senior staffs (often the same thing).
Nor, seemingly, do BOIs ask obvious or penetrating questions, or dig deeper. Some would say they only dig as deep as the pre-judgement permits. The most obvious example in recent years is the Tornado / Patriot incident. The BOI recommended “The Tornado IFF installation be modified to ensure that the cockpit warning (sic – singular) is triggered in all modes”. In a report which points the finger straight at the Patriot crews and their procedures, is it not an obvious question, “Why was the cockpit warning not integrated in the first place, given it is a fundamental safety feature of the system design?” And perhaps, “Has such a failure/omission occurred before, on other aircraft, and been condoned?” Or how about, “Was a 2* personally advised the previous year to have all Tornados’ IFF systems checked for precisely this failure/omission?”
Or how about the multiple fatality incident where the BOI slammed an on-board system as “unfit for purpose” yet didn’t ask why contemporary photographs show the system was not installed in the trials aircraft. (Answer – it had been assessed as unfit for purpose and removed before experimental flight approval could be granted).
I do not fully understand the powers of a Coroner, but the admirable Mr Walker in Oxford has been very robust with the MoD over their pompous deceit. I only wish he could order BOIs to reconvene to take into account the evidence placed before his court which has clearly been withheld from the BOI. Perhaps he’s being removed from post before he does just that, or starts ordering judicial reviews.
My apologies if this upsets anyone, but I have a grave sense that natural justice is being swept aside under the BOI system. It may well be that the Nimrod (or any other) BOI takes an honest view of the evidence before it, but I sincerely doubt if that evidence will be as complete as it could be.