Treble One,
I'm glad I'm not the only one who picked up on that!!
Airsound, with respect, your post has not only a spectacular amount of spin contained in it, but also, as Treble One picked up on, an enormous amount of omissions. I have stayed away from this topic for as long as I possibly could have, but your post has forced me to comment due to the unbelievable amount of spin you have put upon Mr Kelleher's statement. Allow me to elaborate...
Padhraic Kelleher in his statement referred to the CAA having to be satisfied as to the structural integrity of the aircraft, and how "several large specialist organisations" were not "content" with the state of the aircraft. Those organisations were none other than BAE Systems and Marshall Aerospace, due solely to the fact that TVOC had not carried out the Fleet Sampling checks that were mandated by these organisations to be carried out upon XH558, as it was the only Vulcan in the fleet. Talks between TVOC, BAE, Marshall Aerospace and the CAA lead to a concession that the checks could be deferred and taken place using XM603 as sample due to the fact that the areas concerned (Fin Bolts etc) would be in a similar condition, having been preserved under a layer of sealant, and would be acceptable from a safety point of view. Flight then took place, along with an extended period of "Servicing" during which time TVOC had the opportunity to carry out the neccessary work on XM603. This work never took place during this time, for reasons best known to TVOC and so the situation occurred at Waddington where the aircraft was without a permit due to a situation that could, and indeed was resolved within a short period of time with the work being swiftly carried out and letter of "We've done the work" being sent to the CAA, and the CAA stamping the permit that day
Unfortunately, the problem is not, nor ever has been with the CAA, more the enormously inept and unqualified "Management" that afflicts it...
I could go on and on on this subject, but shall withdraw gracefully...
Flipflopman