Terry - A simple defence of this woman is not possible. And a complicated one is totally impossible. I am sure you are an honorable person and a trying to do the right thing by defending her, your employer and the Air League but I think what you are trying to do is doomed to failure. Our modern world and technology means that where ever we go, huge great big electronic footprints are left behind and like red wine stains on a wedding dress, are totally impossible to remove. Tracey's past is clear for us all to see and even though attempts have been made to clean the dress, all it does is make the stain worse.
May I suggest that you help Tracey take a different path? It is clear she is a good speaker and communicator, she enjoys a public presence and loves flying her plane. If she is ever to be rehabilitated she will have to do something different. So get her to bite bullet. Admit the
PR machine behind her has got it hopelessly wrong, admit she did little or nothing to correct it, hand back the awards and commendations etc. and stop wearing RAF wings. Then get some help. Firstly, to come to terms with reality. Then to launch a real outreach programme. One that works with the lower stratas of society and encourages them to work harder at school. We also need girls in particular to break into STEM areas. We are going to need everyone to do their bit post Brexit and losing 50% of our able bodied youth because they don't think they belong is bonkers. In the developing parts of the world, invest time not on photoshoots with women pilots but time with those who are preventing women from fully participating in their societies. Then, after building a solid worthwhile reputation doing some real work with a little flying on the side, accept an award for a real achievement.
PM