The scenario nsxtasy illustrates is IMHO quite feasable. What would be interesting to find out, but probably impossible, is who was on the flight deck?
It was a heavy crew so it is likely that one crew member was in the bunk. Was it the Captain? Where is the crew bunk on a 330? If nsxtasy's scenario had to be sorted by the first officer and a relief pilot chances of success are reduced.
How much experience of hand flying the plane at altitude in alternate law in a stormy night without (reliable) instruments would the pilots of an A330 have
a) in simulator?
b) in real world?
I'm not questioning their ability. I'm questioning, if statistically it would make much difference who handled the plane. And one F/O had more experience on type than the captain.
AF press release Nr. 2: ...The flight captain had a record of 11,000 flight hours and had already flown 1,700 hours on Airbus A330/A340s.
Of the two first officers, one had flown 3,000 flight hours (800 of which on the Airbus A330/A340) and the other 6,600 (2,600 on the Airbus A330/A340).