Dalek
Cazatou in post #5101 above asked BOAC a fundamental question that, I believe, has great relevence here: <<WHY DID THE AIRCRAFT CAPTAIN NOT HAVE THE REGIONAL QNH SET ON HIS ALTIMETER? ... A simple question regarding something that is axiomatic for every Service Pilot who operates at low level. >>
As BOAC has insulted Cazatou previously as to his experience, it would be very nice if BOAC would answer this question fully, clearly, and honestly.
My answer is that the subscale setting on the handling pilot's altimeter just happened to be exactly right for the QFE at the elevation of that LZ – you know, so the altimeter reads zero at that ground level – fits in with a RADALT alarm being on minimum – looks like they were planning to land there.
As to the “commercial radio station”, Atlantic 252 had the most powerful transmitter around and therefore coverage (much better than Radio 4) and was widely listened to by trawlermen – just before the crash the station would have had the weather if not the actual shipping forecast (you get pressures off that!) – why not tune in? Again, it was not belting out pop music at the time of the crash – it was news and weather.