The Nimrod Review - Official Documents

The Nimrod Review
484
19.34.16 ”Additional Duties and Diversions.
– Even with low sortie rates as a function of aircraft availability, [station] personnel report being
‘more busy than ever’ dealing with the myriad of management overheads... In addition to
being cynical about change programmes, weary cynicism surrounded the good that surveys/
audits such as the Continuous Attitude Survey and the [Capability Health Check] can do.
– ... Devolved duties and responsibilities from [Group] also increase the non-operational work
load.” (page A-3).
19.34.17 ”Reliance on Industry
– [...]
– ... At Kinloss, there was grave concern over the time it took for the Design Authority to
approve relatively simple repair schemes and components that had to return to BAES were
reportedly taking ‘many months’ to be returned. Similarly there were ‘insufficient’ brake
and tyre spares for the NIMROD; it was claimed that one heavy landing would have used
[station] stockholdings. It was alleged that there was no real plan for ‘spares support’ for
the MR4 after it is introduced, and concern was expressed about the level of support for
the remaining MR2 fleet until OSD. Engineering staffs at Kinloss expressed concern about
ongoing industry commitment to support the MR2 until OSD, as airframe numbers are
reduced and MR4 progressively enters service.” (page A-4).
– [...]
– ... ‘Dead on Ground’ aircraft are routinely robbed of spares that are otherwise in the [Central
Maintenance Unit/BAES-Marham loop, doubling the workload to return these platforms to
the line.
– [...]
– ... More [aircraft] were being robbed of spares to keep the rest of the fleet airborne, doubling
the maintenance requirement to get these aircraft returned to service.”
19.34.18 ”Delivery of Qualified Personnel
– ... The key issue raised in all discussion groups and interviews was the lack of suitably
qualified and experienced people. ...[M]anpower shortages resulting in NCOs increasingly
being ‘hands on’ and delivering output, rather than supervising it. ...” (page A-5).
– ...Additional personnel have been promised in some areas as a result of reviews, eg an
additional 18 technicians on Nimrod Line Sqn, but they have yet to arrive and experience
has shown that the trades and qualifications may not necessarily cover the gap. ...” (page
A-5).
– “Shortage of trained manpower meant that relatively straightforward jobs, such as an engine
change on a NIMROD, had doubled in time, compounding aircraft availability problems. ...
Skills fade was also a concern raised on several occasions as there were fewer opportunities
now for airmen to do depot level maintenance (Depth) and have the broader knowledge
and experience to support aircraft on operations, especially at austere locations. ...” (page
A-6).