Oh dear, just when I think I understand it!!!
SH this all sounds very technical, procedural and rigorous. However, how do you explain the ability of AOC2Gp to simply wave his magic wand and ordain that, contrary to serious concerns by aircrew at Kinloss, the Nimrod is granted authority to continue AAR, within days of the crash, solely with his permission?
One of the SDs says that if operationally essential and if no other alternatives exist then the aircraft can tank, albeit with AOC 2 Gp permission. So, we had a jet AARing over Kandahar 4 days after the accident!!