The winds at BHX were between 80 to 100 degrees off the runway (33). Full x-wind component.
The same winds (if they were the same?) at EMA would have been 20 to 40 degrees off the runway (27). Between 2/3rds max and 1/3rd min x-wind component, approx, using rule of thumb.
Control fault or restriction = go to the most into wind runway you can find. EMA.
Regardless of the method (or combination of methods) selected for handling, the aircraft did not appear to use rudder in any meaningful form on either landing attempt.
Our Ops Manual precluded more than two approaches to the same runway - a diversion to EMA after the second approach might still have worked well overall, with no paperwork.
I did 14 years of turbo-prop night freight and am a decidedly average pilot. I empathise with tired crew. But the basic flying and management skills seem totally lacking here.
Last edited by lsh; 19th Jun 2020 at 15:32.
Reason: edit