The Nimrod Review - Official Documents

The Nimrod Review
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Defence Airspace and Air Traffic Management (DAATM): DAATM, which is already a well established department
(albeit under the part-time lead of a 1-Star), shall be headed by a full time 1-Star officer with appropriate experience in
this specialised field of airworthiness.
Release To Service Authority (RTSA) : The 2-Star Operating Airworthiness Regulator shall have RTS sign-off powers
for all Defence Aviation platforms. The RTSA shall be led by an experienced 1-Star whose department shall provide
independent operating and engineering scrutiny of Safety Cases, for the initial RTS and all subsequent amendments. The
RTSA will also be responsible for assuring Air System Equipment airworthiness throughout its in-service life.
5. Technical Airworthiness: The following entities shall form the Technical Airworthiness Regulator’s Area of Responsibility and
report direct to him/her:
Regulation Department:
The Regulation Department (Technical Airworthiness) shall be a 1-Star-led department
responsible for developing and issuing all policy and regulation for Technical Airworthiness across the Defence environment
(from the AOA reaching back through to Defence Industry).
Assurance Department: The Assurance Department (Technical Airworthiness) shall be an OF5-led department. It shall
have responsibility for:
22
assuring technical airworthiness regulatory compliance across Defence.
providing the necessary independent assessment of units, ships, operational bases and contractors to determine
whether individual type technical operations are compliant and airworthy.
examining the spectrum of technical regulation to assure compliance (as well as considering support issues, training
and behavioural/cultural aspects). 23
Technical Airworthiness Authority: The Technical Airworthiness Authority shall be led by a 1-Star officer. It shall have
responsibility for:
decisions regarding the implementation of regulations for type.
providing direction and approval for all non type-specific Airworthiness issues.
Approvals & Flight Test: The Approvals, 24 Flight Test and Certification Department shall be an OF5-led department. It
shall be responsible for:
Approvals for Flight Test (including approvals for contractor flying of military platforms).
Regulatory oversight of the approval of individuals who are required to hold Airworthiness Letters of Authority
(LOAs).
Certification approval (once requirements have been properly defined).
6. Accident Investigation: There will be a new Military Accident Investigation regime under the direct control of the Regulator:
Military Air Accident Investigation Branch: A Military Air Accident Investigation Branch (MAAIB) shall be established,
led at OF5 level. It shall comprise a team of full-time, trained, specialised and experienced operators and technicians
built upon the well-established Royal Navy (RN) Flight Safety Accident and Investigation Team. The MAAIB shall provide
a function similar to that of the Air Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) in the Civil Aviation sector and shall work closely
with the AAIB. The MAAIB shall be configured to investigate all UK and deployed military air accidents. The MAAIB will
assist the Service Inquiry (SI) in the technical investigation of the cause of the accident, under the direction of the SI
President. The MAAIB will also provide specialist advice to the SI as necessary throughout its broader investigation. As
soon as the SI/MAAIB team has determined the immediate cause of the accident it shall produce an interim report and (if
necessary) interim recommendations. This report shall be without prejudice to the final SI report which will incorporate
any interim report, consider the accident in its wider context and make further recommendations as necessary.
Service Inquiries and Support: All future SIs will be convened by the Regulator, who will appoint appropriate Presidents
to lead them, taking into account the nature and circumstances of the accident. There shall be a SI Support Team which
shall provide specialist advice, administration, management and legal services to SIs throughout their investigation and
beyond. 25 . The SI Support Team shall be required to ensure the training of sufficient candidates at SO1 level or above
to ensure the Services have sufficient trained SO1 Presidents to call upon to conduct SIs into fatal or non-fatal air
accidents. 26
22 The AOAs shall retain responsibility for assuring their own Technical Airworthiness, calling on the services of their Chief Engineer and his/her
staffs.
23 This role is commensurate with that undertaken by the CAA Surveyor’s department in the civil sector.
24 i.e. DAOS, MAOS approvals (e.g. Mil Part 145, Mil Part M, Mil Part 147, etc).
25 The SI members may be required to attend civil, criminal or coroner’s courts as a result of their SI duties.
26 The students attending each year’s Advanced Staff Course (ASC) will contain many of those eligible to undertake such training and arranging for
the training to follow the ASC would ensure minimum disruption to posting patterns. However, the ASC should not be seen as a prerequisite to be a
SI President. The course could also be attended by some of those likely to be nominated as aircrew or engineering members.