OK Chug2, let's go into this. First thing to be said is that I'm not going to start any campaigns, are you? From my p.o.v. we're just sorting the world out, as we might over a beer, with no expectation of changing anything.
Now, I didn't say I disagreed outright, I said I wasn't certain. Why not? Well, you've helpfully provided a public profile which shows your first-hand knowledge of these matters is even more out of date than my own. I'm sure you've followed accidents and their outcomes as closely as I, or any other pilot, but we don't KNOW. What I know is that while it is undoubtedly true that the Chinook investigation was flawed, the BoI came to its own conclusion, not that of anyone else. The subsequent corruption of its findings by reviewing officers is what the fuss was mainly about.
I also KNOW that in the BoI I gave as an example, higher authority tried to change our findings in respect of negligence. They failed because we resisted. As you said in post #4 "worked because good men did their duty and put it above personal ambition". Of course, it wasn't a headline crash.
There have been several allegations of Board Presidents being told what their findings were to be. I note them, but they are not substantiated. Posters have quoted what journos have written. Leveson has demonstrated how some journos are quite willing to make things up.
So I can only believe what I KNOW. Links, such as flipsters to demonstrate the current rules, are good. Allegations aren't.
I know I am horrified by the idea of non-specialist, prosecution oriented, civilian police investigating what are usually technical failures (including technical errors by the crew). It appears to be a fact, which is why my OP was about "how did we ever get into this situation?" There have been as many flawed police investigations as flawed BoIs. I'd guess more, in fact.
I am not yet persuaded the BoI system is inherently flawed, although posters here have provided some indications that it may be.
Incidentally, JB, a personal profile from you would be helpful, to know who I'm talking to.
Last edited by keithl; 14th Jul 2012 at 10:49.