Gents it is standard practice on the Nimrod fleet (and I suspect other large aircraft fleets) for the F700 to fly on the aircraft on EVERY sortie not just transits.
I must admit I was shocked when I first saw this (Hunters, Buccs and Tonkas certainly don't carry them unless on a transit) and asked the question why.
The answer was (i) its always been like that at Kinloss (standard answer there) (ii) there is always a danger that an aircraft diverts to another base and (iii) it is inconvenient for the aircrew (bless, how do other aircrew manage then?).
Well I have been at ISK for 6 years now (yes I know compared to some but at least I have worked on other jets!) but I cant remember the last time a jet diverted away from base.
I thought this practice would change post crash but it hasn't. Maybe post BOI it will, who knows.
MHAGE