I am genuinely astounded at the power the RAF has. Reading the above posts, you would think that it controls MOD(Centre), the DsEC, and the IPTs!!!! no wonder the RN are being shafted, as they only run a small operation out of Whale Island.
The fact is that the Jetstream (like the SHAR) is an old aircraft and is going out of service. I don't know the background to the decision to cut Heron Flt, and it looks to me as though it wasn't terribly well thought out, but when, oh when will the RN stop blaming everything bad that happens to the FAA on the RAF??????
PS - WhiteOvies: I see far more Army officers getting out of military aircraft for meetings than RAF....