RAF Rivet Joint

[andrewn]

Couple of thoughts...

1. The USAF have been operating RJs for years and, AFAIK, they don't fall out of the sky on a regular basis
2. The USAF operates RJs out of the UK on a daily basis - often with UK crews. Somebody must have authorised this and "taken the risk"
   
   
   I've read all the arguments about paperwork and audit trails and I understand the point that Tuc, etc are trying to get across, and I also understand the pain of the needless loss of family members due to negligence and cost cutting by those who had a duty of care to protect them (to the best of their ability).
   
   
   Unfortunately, as is often the case, I feel that the real issue (Govt cost cutting and negligence by key service individuals) has been lost in the noise and everyone is now hiding behind the "audit trail" argument. Common sense and logic has gone out of the window and no doubt in part due to the authorisers being terrified of ending up in jail if the unthinkable ever did happen.
   
   
   All the while the crews and jet sit around and we as a nation miss out on a valuable capability.
   
   
   Only in blighty!