From the Preliminary Aviation Safety Investigation Report Ditching – Norfolk Island – 18 November 2009
At Apia, the pilot in command submitted a flight plan by telephone to Airservices Australia. At that time, the forecast weather conditions at Norfolk Island for the arrival did not require the carriage of additional fuel for holding, or the nomination of an alternate airport.
I do hope ATSB has a subscription to the CAOs, especially CAO 82.0 and someone in the ATSB reads it.
An alternate was required irrespective of forecast conditions. CAO82.0.2.4(a)
(a) the minimum amount of fuel that will, whatever the weather conditions, enable the aeroplane to fly, with all its engines operating, to the remote island and then from the remote island to the aerodrome that is, for that flight, the alternate aerodrome for the aircraft, together with any reserve fuel requirements for the aircraft; and