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Old 26th October 2007 | 08:41
  #1164 (permalink)  
tucumseh
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: uk
Well done, TD.

I've just watched Liam Fox. He speaks well, but I detected a note of wariness, no doubt caused by his knowledge that the MoD's ambivalence toward airworthiness, and flat refusal to fund it properly, extends back to his party's reign.

He noted, correctly, that aircraft (and other equipment) are being deployed in conditions far in excess of what their design specification intended. He talks of "modifications" perhaps being required. I'd say a complete rethink on suitability for these conditions (fitness for purpose). Some quite modern, recently specified kit, is proving totally unsuitable for these conditions. COTS equipment often exacerbates this. He also touched on the RATE at which kit is being used and expended, meaning it requires replacement more frequently. We don't see the necessary funding for this.

The only other thing I'd say is that the reporting and criticism is aimed squarely at the "RAF". The people who make the decisions to, for example, cut funding, ignore airworthiness issues or not provide adequate support to the Services (which is a breach of the MoD's own airworthiness rules), are very often in the "Centre". They are not "RAF" - their decisions affect all 3 Services and, if the families were willing, similar campaigns could be run on other recent fatal accidents, notably during 2003, where the issues and evidence is much more clear cut. I respect their decision not to pursue this, but I know for a fact that what TD has unearthed cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be termed isolated. But I'm sure the MoD will claim this.
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