JSP 553 has been mentioned a few times. (Military Airworthiness Regulations).
It has to be said that this is voluminous to say the least. 7 Chapters, 20+ Annexes, a dozen Appendices. Very few know it by heart. It’s the kind of publication you dip into when a question arises.
Nevertheless, it sets out the Regulations. But, if you were to sit most IPTLs down and ask them to highlight JSP requirements that they simply do not have the funding, manpower or expertise to implement, then you would be horrified.
The part I refer to most often, as it is the one which causes project managers and Design Authorities most hassle, is Ch. 5.53. “It must be possible to establish the actual design of the aircraft (i.e. as flown) has been assessed for safety. The IPTL is to ensure that the design of the aircraft after a Service engineered change is clearly and unambiguously documented, and covered by an identified issue of the safety case”. The reason it is hassle is because the Services and In Service IPTs often ignore it. More often than not, an aircraft will be delivered to a contractor for, say, modification, bearing no resemblance to the build standard reflected in the “up to date” safety case or drawings. (And the knock-on effect is felt by Service maintainers, who indeed “follow the book” but have no control whatsoever over its currency).
The processes and procedures to do this, for both aircraft and equipment, have remained unchanged for over 16 years. Yet, as I have said before many times, the apathy in this general field is appalling. Criminally so. “Complete waste of money” is a typical cry.
I mentioned two sample accidents in a previous post. Read the BoI reports. Then ask if Ch. 5.53 or other fundamental regulations for ensuring airworthiness is (a) achieved and (b) MAINTAINED were investigated by the BoI. And then dig deeper and ask if the BoI were given all the information, or even sought it. Frankly, both reports are a joke. The only possible conclusion, given the information that would answer key questions they ask (but apparently can’t answer) is freely available, is that embarrassment had to be avoided. And this is why I support what TD is doing now. If nothing else, he is very publicly forcing the MoD to ask questions they don’t like the answers to. He may or may not get satisfaction, but if the way MoD implements its own Regulations changes for the better, then this can only be good.