The Nimrod Review - Official Documents

The Nimrod Review
Four Key Principles
Introduction
20.1
20.2
20.3
488
“Perfect wisdom has four parts, viz. wisdom, the principle of doing things aright;
justice, the principle of doing things equally in public and private; fortitude,
the principle of not flying danger, but meeting it; and temperance, the principle of
subduing desires and living moderately.”
(Plato, 428 BC-348 BC).
It is important, in any sphere of life, to identify the right principles and then to be guided by them.
In the complex world of high-risk technologies, there are a myriad of forces competing for time, attention and
resources. This is nowhere more true than in the world of modern Military Aviation. Designing, maintaining
and operating heavier-than-air machines remains one of man’s most complex technological achievements.
The boundaries of aviation technology continue to be pushed. In the Military Aviation context, the overriding
imperatives of achieving the military mission, the need to be able to operate towards the edges of the safety
‘envelope’, and the vicissitudes of modern warfare, add layers of complexity to an already difficult equation.
Most aviation organisations worth their salt espouse safety and airworthiness as their ‘highest priority’ and
enunciate ‘principles’ to which they profess adherence. Translating these laudable aspirations into a practical
reality, however, is easier said than done.
Current policy, principles and definitions
20.4
The Safety Management Policy of the Secretary of State for Defence is expressed as follows:
“I expect the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces, in their organisation and
processes, to ensure that in the acquisition of material and equipments of all kinds,
safely and environmental management begins at the requirement definition stage and is
carried forward through service to disposal. This includes all aspects of maintenance and
operation.” 1
20.5 The Secretary of State requires: “that the airworthiness arrangements for military aircraft should be at least as
effective as those for civil aircraft contained in the [Air Navigation Orders], and should comply with the [Health
& Safety at Work Act 1974] where relevant. This is particularly important in roles that are paralleled in civil
operations, such as where passengers are carried.” 2
20.6 The current Military definition of Airworthiness is: “The ability of an aircraft or other airborne equipment or
system to operate without significant hazard to aircrew, ground crew, passengers (where relevant) or to the
general public over which such airborne systems are flown.” 3
20.7 In the MOD, those in receipt of Type Airworthiness Authority delegated authority are required to: “Ensure that
airworthiness-related processes, functions and activities are: completed to accepted standards, performed by
competent individuals, accomplished by approved organisations [and] undertaken using accepted procedures”. 4
20.8
1 JSP815.
5 6
The ‘Four Pillars’ of Airworthiness in the MOD are expressed as:
Use of Competent People (by means of the Design Approved Organisation Scheme (DAOS), the
Maintenance Approved Organisation Scheme (MAOS) and assessment of MOD staff to whom Letters
2 JSP553, paragraph 1.15.
3 Military definition of ‘airworthiness’, JSP553, Change 5, Notes to Users, paragraph 2.
4 AD(Air Systems), D&MSD. Presentation to the Nimrod Review, April 2008.
5 DE&S.
6 AD(Air Systems), D&MSD. Presentation to the Nimrod Review, April 2008.