Could I just ask a very quick question. There have been a few references in this thread to Boeing permitting a small amount of frost on the wing surfaces of the 737 - and I know that this is true providing that the frost is within the pre-defined area on the upper wing surface.
BUT was this permitted back in 2003 when this incident took place? I was under the impression that this change on the 737 was fairly recent (as in the last 2 to 3 years or so).