Op Allowance from outside theatre
There is definitely a precedent for receiving the Op Allowance when operating from a 'safe' location. All aircrew on Op TELIC received Op Allowance on a per-day basis each time they crossed into theatre. Only one claim per day was allowed - ie multiple sorties didn't get you any 'extra'. If you were over Iraq at midnight local - lucky you - you got 2 days'-worth. Furthermore, if your days claimed exceeded 50% of your total deployment, you got Op Allowance for its entire duration.
The engineers didn't appear to mind this differential so much; it was their ineligibility for a TELIC medal that miffed them.
Given the probability of roving SA-6 and SA-8 being available to the Colonel's forces, I would say that it's an outrage that the Op Allowance has been denied.