The tribunal has been put on hold for the time being due to the foot and mouth outbreak.(I kid you not, but it may go to explain the 170+ outbreaks in the UK and 0 in the republic, something to do with humility. but I digress)
It would appear that this is opening up a great can of worms that is bringing the authority of the country into question. If what has been stated in the tribunal by the defense is true, then the authority was out of line by approving something that the Portugese authority required as a prerequisite to operate in to Funcal. (twice in my career, operating with separate registers, we had to do actual circuits at the airfield to be cleared to operate there, as is clearly stipulated in their airfield brief).
This clearly did not happen with this company, in breach, I think YES.
I feel strongly for the average line pilot who turns to management for guidance, only to be misinformed. A grand display of inexperience all around particularily from the management level.