I wonder, if we had adopted the FAA requirements some 15 years ago when regulatory reform began, whether this accident would have been prevented.
Requirement to carry an alternate:
1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA-
Vis <2sm (3.2km)
cig <3000ft
The FAA also does not allow charter or RPT aircraft to attempt an instrument approach unless the Wx is reporting above the landing minimums at the time of the intended approach.
If we had this rule in operation here, would the decision to divert to Noumea have been made well in advance of the first approach attempt?