DV
In other words, NART came to the same conclusions as Inspectorate of Flight Safety in Aug 1992, and MoD(PE) staffs who advised senior AMSO staffs of this in January 1988 and and DGSM(RAF) throughout 1991/92.
DGSM's response, in December 1992, was to threaten civilian staffs with dismissal for revealing these facts and complaining that funding to maintain airworthiness had been slashed.
This Dec 1992 date is significant as it demonstrates AMSO's reaction to CHART (which reported Chinook, Puma and Wessex airworthiness was in tatters). Instead of implementing the many CHART recommendations they buried it and threatened staff whose sole function was maintaining airworthiness.
Does anyone think a mere 2 Star would take such action without the support of his seniors?
At the time, the solution to every technical problem listed in CHART was to implement mandated regulations. It is no co-incidence the relevant procedural Def Stan was last updated in 1991 and, after nearly 20 years of not being used, finally canceled 2 years ago. Says it all really.
Good post DV. Spot on.