Mick
it will remain conjecture as to whether this thread had any bearing on the final outcome - yet to be determined.
What I am certain of, through personal knowledge, is the integrity and professionalism of the members of the BoI, and that their findings would have been just as thorough and comprehensive. Further, I am also certain that the response from the knowledgable and experienced crews (air & ground), as well as the families, would have been just as questioning and ultimatley would have forced equally far reaching consequences.
It may have taken longer, but we would have started with the known facts rather than some of the wild and inaccurate speculation we've been subjected to.
What is debatable, is whether we needed to go through such public damning, mud slinging and ridicule which has caused so much pain and anguish to so many people, especially to those who still have a job to do - obvious perhaps, but we have always had a vested interest.
Make no mistake, the fall out from this will be wide ranging, and will not be Nimrod specific, but it will not guarantee such accidents will not occur in the future, - only hindsight can do that.
Cheers
OilCan