No matter what you argue, there is still a job to be done and not enough of anything else available with which to do it. So, is it acceptable to ground the fleet and sacrifice the lives of some Squaddies who are depending on us?
Shame on you!
Far be it from me a civvie who has flown those safe 737s, and is even safer now, retired, to counter the words of someone on type in theatre only too aware of the importance of the vital work being done by the MR2s. But the shame should fall not on those like me who call for the grounding of this fleet until it is made safe, but on those in command who knew it to be unsafe, have done nothing to change that, and kept it flying at an ever more demanding rate. These charming polite old men have failed in their responsibilities to their subordinates, in particular their crews. There are always alternatives, there are alternatives here, the problem is they would cost money, and even more seriously they would cost face. I can say without hesitation that had this scenario unfolded in the 60s/70s the fleet would be grounded, not just no AR, grounded. This should happen now. That there is a war and even more lives are put at risk if this task is not flown merely points up the gross negligence (familiar phrase?) of the RAF higher command. Shame on them!