With tops at 20,000 he could not have attained "VMC on top".
We're pretty certain that he did not have a JAA IR (or even UK IMC). He may have had an FAA IR but as it was a UK reg a/c he would not have been allowed to plan to exercise its privileges.
The simple facts are that the weather was unsuitable for this kind of flight by that pilot in that aeroplane. He only had to wait 24-36 hours and he would have been fine.
The plan to take an aeroplane with no long range tanks across the atlantic would also appear to have a few holes in it....
Last edited by moggiee; 7th Apr 2008 at 22:43.