Father D B
T-DODAR is a favoured structure by some in BA for some non-normals, in some circumstances..pattern matching and rule based decision structures are allowed, as is Airmanship/common sense.... ..
If the commander needs information about the state of his aircraft it is entirely his responsibility to seek it, whether that means opening the window and looking out, asking the cabin crew, or asking ATC.
This is not the only recent high-profile BA event in which the commander has not sought the necessary information as diligently as he should have done, in my opinion, .
I take it in gathering information to form that opinion you read the
full NTSB report on the accident in which it states that after the aircraft stopped the Relief F/O looked through a flight deck side window, saw a shadow of what he thought might be that of smoke, reported that fact and the basis of that information the same First Officer was dispatched aft by the captain to
gather information on what was visible from the cabin?