I have no intention of speculating of the possible cause/s of this tragic accident, but I would like to ask a question that relates to the Airbus radar.
Several posters have mentioned that it is possible to have the radar "dimmed" and that this may not be noticed by the crew.
What I don't understand is how it is possible to select, test, tilt and operate the radar if it is dimmed to an extent that it prevents seeing any image or returns. Surely, in order to start any kind of scan using the radar, the image must be visible so that tilt and intensity scans can be seen and set up for the phase of flight.
Radar is not simply something that you switch on in the hope that significant returns will pop up - the display must be seen to even test and start using it - unless Airbus have some fancy system that I have not yet come accross.
Can Airbus pilots please explain the "dimming" problem that several have mentioned