A safety wake up call

摘要

Throughout my RAF career, which spanned 25 years, the concept of flight safety was drummed into me and my colleagues at all levels. Flight safety briefings were de rigueur, posters extolling the virtues of flight safety adorned every squadron and wing office and we watched many a film produced by the RAF Directorate of Flight Safety. Following the report - by Charles Haddon-Cave QC - into the crash of Nimrod XV230, one is left with the overriding impression that this 'Flight Safety First' culture changed over a number of years between 1998 and 2006. But what drove this apparent change?