Yesterday, Colonel Anthony 'Bunny' Stern, a veteran aviation expert, dismissed the insinuation that the absence of the approach lights could have contributed to the crash.
Dead nuts on!!!
Our airline performed subservice for Cayman Airways in the 727 to Cayman Brac... at night too... witout Papi... Vasi... or ILS sometimes with driving rain... sometimes a full moon with calm winds.
Part of a rate ride in the US is to accomplish a visual approach without any visual cues other then the runway environment. Our company required the manuever be demonstrated every 6 months in the simulator as well as in the aircraft too.
Wish I had the features of the NG... but we didn't. With that being said for over 9 months it was our safe operation with the disciplines and adherences to SOPs that kept is a safe operation.