cgb:-
It is my view that there has to be some 'wriggle room' within the airworthiness system.
Just how much wriggle room do you want? tuc has already confirmed that it is official MOD policy, confirmed up to SoS level, that it is correct to issue an order to suborn UK Military Airworthiness, ie to disregard the Regulations but sign that they have been complied with, and that it is a disciplinary offence to disobey such an order. Surely that is sufficient for any coach and horse combination that the MOD has in mind?
The MAA? I suspect that they are about to realise just how peripheral they are in such matters...