Originally Posted by bad_bear
So I guess that is the problem. Someone had to take a view on how likely it would be signed off in the time scale available, if the answer was " it could take some time" the current government would be left with only one decision. What would be the point in finishing off the whole production run of aeroplanes only to find 3 years later someone cannot sign them off as fit for flight because it is thought that one of the primary systems might have a risk of failure and requires all the planes gutted and refitted?
The world has changed. Its not anybodies fault the Nimrod just got zapped by the risk of litigation.
Who could reasonably argue with the logic?
bb
Further to Tucumseh's reply, it is always satisfying to blame the legal profession, but I wonder how much the risk of litigation was really a problem. Litigation by who? Is the risk of payouts to some of a lost crew's families a la XV230 really that significant in relation to the programme's total costs?