TD
It is clear from your posting that Group Captain (Now Air Commadore) xxxxxx was in-charge of the Nimrod IPT when they issued the RTI to reactivate the SCP in April 2005, following the XV227 incident in late 2004. This was done at a time when it was known that serveral ducts in the hot air system were "life expired and require replacement". In fact the 5-way duct (adjacent to No. 7 tank dry bay) had a safe life and inspection period determined back in 1982 of 3200hrs and 800hrs respectively, however this was never translated into any maintenance documentation. In 2005 the fleet had exceeded 3200hrs.
Furthermore, after a second duct failure and pressure testing of selected ducts from XV227 and XV228 showed corrosion and cracking (5-way duct included), confirming the ealier fears, the IPT allowed the use of the SCP to continue. On 3rd Sept 2006 the SCP was switched off, never to be used again. TOO LATE IPTL.
Here is a question for the IPTL. If you have a problem with a power socket in your house, and a specilatist electrician tells you that because of age, and the risk of fire, all sockets in your house should be replaced, do you.
(a) Stop using the sockets and have them all replaced? or
(b) Replace the defective socket and continue to use the others?
If you select (b) and your house burns down you are NEGLIGENT. If lives are lost its MANSLAUGHTER.
DV