The Nimrod Review - Official Documents

Chapter 21 – New Military Airworthiness Regime
Recommendation 21.B.1: The MOD shall clearly identify the three Duty Holders in each Air domain as
follows:
Top Level: The single Service Chiefs (CNS, 34 CGS, 35 and CAS) shall be appointed the senior
(corporate) Duty Holders for the respective aircraft and personnel within their domain.
AOA Level: The heads of the AOAs (the three AOCs for the RAF) shall be appointed the
(operational) Duty Holders for their respective personnel and platforms who are responsible for
the safe employment of the equipment usage.
Unit Level: Unit Commanders shall be appointed the (delivery) Duty Holders with operating
Airworthiness responsibility for personnel and platforms under their command, and who will
report directly to their Aircraft Operating Authority for all ‘Duty Holder’ matters.
Recommendation 21.B.2: Each Service shall appoint (a) a Chief Air Engineer to head the self-regulation
of Technical Airworthiness in each of the operating authorities and (b) a Senior Operator to head the
self-regulation of Operational Airworthiness and Flight Safety.
21.43
For the avoidance of doubt, for Recommendation 21.B.2: As regards (a), the Duty Holder, as the senior
operator, will manage operational regulation with his Command and Group Staff, but will necessarily rely
on a Chief Air Engineer to govern the self-regulation activity in the Engineering domain, including standards
and practices and strategic engineering and support issues that cross platforms. Further, there will be no
requirement for the Chief Air Engineer appointed by the AOA to be an Airworthiness Authority as this
latter function will be undertaken by the Senior Engineers or their equivalents at Unit/base level, who will
be responsible to their duty holder Unit/Base Commanders, and to the Regulator heading the MAA for
Airworthiness compliance. Senior Engineers would be given a LOA from the Duty Holder. As regards (b), the
Flight Operations/Flight Safety Service Lead will be equivalent to the Chief Air Engineer and will be responsible
to the AOA for ensuring the self-regulation of the Operational Airworthiness within the AOA in addition to
being the lead for the management/delivery/inspectorate of Flight Safety.
Recommendation 21.B.3: Those in Duty Holder posts (Service Chief, AOA and Unit Commanders) shall
have Airworthiness responsibility and authority issued by decree by the MAA. When personnel and/
or aircraft are deployed on Operations in Theatre, Service Chief, AOA and Unit Commanders shall
retain their Duty Holder responsibilities (only) for those Airworthiness issues which remain under their
control.
21.44
For the avoidance of doubt, for Recommendation 21.B.3: (1) When Unit Commanders’ personnel and/or
aircraft are deployed on Operations in Theatre, such Unit Commanders shall retain their particular Duty
Holder responsibilities, e.g.: (a) to ensure the aircraft are Airworthy to deploy; (b) to ensure the personnel
being deployed are sufficiently competent and trained; and (c) for continued airworthiness management
(CAMO function); (2) When personnel or aircraft are deployed, the Commander Joint Operations (CJO)
and Theatre Commanders will not become designated Duty Holders, but will acquire a Duty of Care for the
personnel and aircraft under their command for the time being similar to that of any other commander.
Theatre Commanders will also acquire a responsibility for the time being for regulatory compliance exercised
through their nominated deployed Operations and Engineering Specialists; (3) The MAA shall provide adequate
guidance/direction on the Airworthiness aspects associated with Airworthiness decisions during Operations
in Theatre, including setting the broad rules/requirements, e.g. regarding demonstration of having sought
specialist In-Theatre Type Airworthiness advice. Such guidance must recognise that Operational Commanders
may be required to make operational decisions at short notice in a highly dynamic and intense environment;
and (4) The MAA shall also provide adequate guidance/policy on specific Airworthiness responsibilities where
UK assets/personnel are commanded by Non-UK Operational Commanders.
34 Chief of Naval Staff.
35 Chief of General Staff.
509