The deliberate falsification of continuation training, instrument flying and instrument approach records is a wholly different matter to mere forgetfulness.
I am loathe to condemn any aviator, and won't.
If you recall the Mull of Kintyre evidence, the Aldergrove detachment was criticised for poor paperwork practices. But the reason apathy set in was because VSOs had stopped funding e.g. fault investigations, and Engineering Authorities had been instructed not to seek investigations. In 1991 all such engineering decisions on airworthiness related faults were in the hands of very junior Supply Managers at Harrogate. (This evidence, and actual letters, were given in evidence to Lord Philip). The front line were criticised by the ZD576 BoI, but the underlying system failure was not even mentioned. Same as this current case.
While perhaps worse, I think one will find a similar underlying reason why the Red Arrows pilots thought they could falsify documents. After all, they must have known it is a specific offence under, for example, the Air Force Act. Someone condoned it.
If Court Martialed, their defence will be interesting. They don't need to look far for precedent....
Exhibit A - ACAS's false Chinook Release to Service in November 1993. Was he instructed to do this? We don't know, but Lord Philip confirmed the RTS was in every way a false representation of the facts. And there is no doubt his fellow VSOs knew what he did. After the crash, Wratten even wrote him a letter asking when the aircraft was due to be airworthy.
Exhibit B would be a series of four letters between 28.11.12 and 13.2.13; three from DE&S policy branch and one from the Head of the Civil Service. All four uphold previous rulings, by the RAF and PE/DPA that refusing to obey an order to make a false declaration is an offence, but issuing that order is not an offence. The December 1992 ruling by the RAF Chief Engineer's immediate subordinate was the subject of a 3.5 year investigation, which advised PUS the ruling was wrong. Yet, the policy remains extant.
If the Reds are reading this, and you find yourself in the dock, let me know because I'd love to see what happens when those policy rulings are read out in court. Then we'd maybe have a chance of seeing the real culprits answer for their actions. Also, have your representative call the Provost Marshal, as he has this evidence but declined to act upon it. I'll send him another copy.
