A previous poster who says he works for Air Europa says there were two captains and an F/O assigned to the flight. This suggests this may have been a check flight or training and that, at least originally, the TRI was sitting on the jump seat. I do not know how often Air Europa fly in to Katowice, but it is probably not a very familiar airport for this crew.
Whilst Captplaystation's input is certainly educational it seems unlikely the crew were performing an autoland. However presupposing you were conducting a marginal CAT 1 approach into an unfamiliar airport, would he clarify exactly what he means by promulgated and where he would check this in the middle of the night in the cockpit. Jepp charts, Notams and ATIS spring to mind, but being sure something is allowed is always tricky.
I would be surprised if the CVR does not contain very loud warnings such as glideslope / sink rate etc. and the crew is regretting not going around from what had obviously become a non stabilised approach. Typical swiss cheese with the holes all lined up; middle of the night, tired from a long day, unfamiliar airport, marginal weather and then a dive for the deck! Just speculation, but a very dangerous situation.
Last edited by lederhosen; 1st Nov 2007 at 16:10.