"I welcome the statement by the Secretary of State for Defence, Rt Hon. Bob Ainsworth MP, in the Commons today regarding the MOD’s plans to implement the recommendations in my Report published on 28 October 2009.
"I welcome the acceptance by the Secretary of State and the MOD of the vast majority (80 out of 84) of my recommendations and, in particular, the creation of a new independent Military Airworthiness Authority under a 3-star officer, the setting up of an entirely new Duty Holder structure, the implementation of a new approach to Safety Cases, the establishment of a new Service Inquiry regime and Joint Service Military Air Accident Investigation Branch (MAAIB), the re-writing of the current Military Airworthiness document set, the appointment of a Chief Engineer to support each Aircraft Operating Authority, the addressing of personnel weaknesses in engineering skills, the re-examination of the MOD’s relationship with Industry as a whole, a new strategy for Acquisition Reform and the adoption of the new Principles which I have recommended.
"The Secretary of State told the Commons that, in all, the plan amounted to ‘the most radical reform to the MOD’s approach to airworthiness procedures since military aviation began’ .
"In the final paragraph of my Report (paragraph 29.7) I said ‘The most fitting memorial to the loss of the crew of XV230 will be that the lessons from their sacrifice are truly learned, and the Recommendations which I have set out are fully implemented’.
"I pay tribute to the Secretary of State and the staff in the Armed Forces and MOD for the speed and thoroughness with which they have sought to address the numerous recommendations in my Report. I look forward to the full implementation of the plan."
Notes for Editors
- For the reasons given previously, Mr Haddon-Cave will not be giving any interviews.
- On 13 December 2007 Mr Haddon-Cave was appointed by then Secretary of Defence, the Rt Hon Des Browne MP, to conduct a Review into the wider issues surrounding the loss of Nimrod XV230 in Afghanistan on 2 September 2006.
- His report, published on 28 October 2009, can be found at: TSO website
Ends
