It has been BANNED
No it hasn't. The aircraft remains cleared to conduct AAR when tasked to do so. Currently, the commanders choose not to task the Nimrod with operations requiring AAR. However, it is unlikely that AAR will be carried out again on MR2 or R1. Its not about safety; its about political will, or the lack of it.
On one hand, Nige, you dismiss the politicians and the airships because you believe they are misleading you and the public about Nimrod safety. Yet, it is they who are restraining the Nimrod operators from returning to AAR.
XV235's diversion into Kandahar is the only reason we are not conducting AAR at the moment. The report on that incident (for that was all it was...a minor incident in the air that became a major news story) has now been issued. If that aircraft did not divert, an IR would not have been raised, the minor leak into a benign and well ventilated area would have been investigated, fixed and sent up for more much-needed AAR; all routine stuff. But, no, our leaders are displaying the same emotional frailties as the crew and they are not taking a structured and balanced view of the situation. What saddens me most is that the crew on XV235 did not have all the facts available, so the human factors naturally took over while, on the other hand, our politicians and airships do have all the facts available and they are allowing flawed and frail human factors to take the lead in their decisions.