"at the very least was that conditions were far from ideal for either sightseeing or VFR flying of a large commercial jet in general'
Were they ever VFR?? I would have thought that requires cancellation of an IFR plan. That obviously never happened. The discussion of what is VMC must go back to the Company and CAA requirements for VMC below MSA, a minimum of 20km. Seeing that they never sighted Erebus at any time, or positively identified Mt Byrd, even though they were virtually over the coastline during the first right hand orbit, having 20km vis would appear to be very doubtful. But as already stated that is but one of many failings of the whole operation.
But I would think that as the point of this thread is to question Justice Mahon, and our Prime Minister statement that the crew were "Blameless" , it certainly has shown that the Chippindale report was far more accurate as to the cause.