Indeed tuc, your usual dose of reality that checkmates the complacent "excellent SI, well done!" postings of others. This SI, in concert with most of the others, has been nobbled. Why? Simply because it could be. The only investigation that it can do is what it is allowed to do, in the same way that the only Regulation that the MAA can do is what it is allowed to do.
We desperately need an Investigator that is able to investigate everything and everybody, including the Military Regulator.
We desperately need a Military Regulator that has the Authority to ensure that UK Military Aircraft are Airworthy and Fit for Purpose.
If the MAAIB and MAA fitted the above descriptions then these two aircraft would almost certainly not have collided, as they would have been fitted with CWS and have been aware of each others close proximity.
If the MAAIB and MAA fitted the above descriptions many other avoidable accidents and needless loss of life would not have occurred, both in the Tornado fleet and others.
If the MAAIB and MAA fitted these descriptions we would have saved money and operational capability rather than wasted them.
Time to free both from the dead hands of the MOD and VSOs.
Self Regulation Doesn't Work and...well, you know the rest!