Chappie
There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with having a non-engineer as an IPTL. Many IPTs don’t really get involved in engineering and airworthiness matters. (Among them, some aircraft IPTs). I suppose credit should be given to the said IPTL for permitting a Safety Working Group in the first place. Many would have pointed to precedent and not bothered. If, as it seems, he chaired it, then it would seem he has little confidence in his Safety Manager – if he has one. I’m trying to be fair to him, but on balance I’d say he’s a prat. This is the perfect attribute for further promotion so I hope his replacement is better.
Of equal import, S-H’s comment on FRCs drew no comment.
“There was a point last year when it was announced that there was no more money to maintain Flight Reference Cards, how on earth can this be allowed to happen?”
I’ve seen this happen on and off for 16 years. I can be very precise as it commenced when RAF suppliers gained control of the necessary funding. Their attitude was, “if it doesn’t generate a “due-in” on the stock computer, it’s a waste of money”. So, no fault investigations. No AP amendments. No training. Do not address obsolescence. Safety? You must be joking. Yes, the “system” has changed over the years, but the damage was done. The MoD no longer has the corporate knowledge to manage the necessary processes and procedures.
I say on and off, because some learned to bury these critical components of airworthiness in catch-all contract clauses, which would slip under the beancounting adolfs’ radar. But this was firefighting - the fragmented approach irreversibly fragmented the airworthiness audit trails. For example, major mods would be schemed, embodied by contractors, but the APs wouldn’t be amended. Maintainers and aircrew would look at the new kit and say “WTF”. The effect is the same on aircrew if the FRCs aren’t maintained. (And in both cases, how do know the pubs haven’t been maintained? Answer – you must wait for something to go wrong). It is further evidence of the MoD’s increasing incompetence and culpability. It must be totally beyond anyone at an air station how this attitude can prevail, but it does, and very senior staffs simply roll over and let it happen.
Again, I commend…..
http://www.publications.parliament.u.../300/30005.htm
Nothings changed.