Firstly XV230 crew 3, killed 3 yrs ago today we will remember you. RIP
As for the BOI system the Nimrod BOI had no-one on it that had investigated an air crash before, and it wasn't the BOI that said
shortcomings in the application of the processes for assuring airworthiness and safe operation of the Nimrod
it was Sir Clive Loader Air Chief Marshall. The BOI didn't find the flaw in the design which meant it had never been airworthy. They asked the AAIB to look a a small piece of evidence, let me remind you of the AAIB at the inquest.
MALE SPEAKER: Just one quick one. You did mention that you
would not carry out the investigation on behalf of the
military aircraft because and you quoted lack of expertise in
the military operation. Who carries out the investigation
when military collides with a civil (several inaudible words)?
MR SLEIGHT: I am trying to recall the regulations now and I
might have to refer to my colleague, Steve Ross. Are you able
to answer that? Is that okay? My colleague Steve Ross is a
senior inspector.
THE CORONER: Yes, from where you are.
MR ROSS: To answer your question, where there is a military
civil interaction as you say in a collision what happens is
that an AIB investigation is launched and an RAF Board of
Inquiry is convened, and the two operate in parallel and share
their functions. So quite clearly we do not have the
authority to go into the Royal Air Force to take statements
(several inaudible words) the RAF cannot come into the civil
world and (several inaudible words). So we share information
and the two parallel investigations are carried out.
MALE SPEAKER: And who is responsible for finding decisions?
MR ROSS: If it affects the civil operation of aircraft it is
us. If it is the military then them, so if they want to
change military procedures the Board of Inquiry will be
(several inaudible words) that. If we need to change civilian
procedures or recommend any change then that would be down to
us.
THE CORONER: Do you think it is time for one standard to be
used for the investigation of any aircraft that is lost
regardless of whether it is civil or military?
MR ROSS: I have to remind the court of what Mr Sleight said,
that is not our decision. That is for the Chief Inspector of
Air Accidents. Certainly it would have huge resource
implications (several inaudible words).
So any change in investigating Air Accidents will cost money. So I guess we can forget that whilst this government is in power.