re: Robin42.
Another detail is the hf communication.
Around the Intol area, Stockholm radio has a class-2 area of reception, and AF OCC used them the same morning but several hours later in a atempt to reach 447. All statements of poor hf is only with Dakar to my knowledge, and Dakar also didnīt have the flightplan, it could pinpoint that Dakar had a comms-breakdown at a real bad timing as well.
Service-area:
Stockholmradio aero
Propagation forecast:
http://www.stockholmradio.se/aero/so..._MAY-JUL09.pdf