henra
Common sense, really. Two basic considerations re: 121.5. The equipment was serviceable, and the pilots were otherwise engaged, or the equipment was down. Emergency "Call" in this case gains the crew what? Why does this a/c rely on an automatic beacon at impact? Shortsighted? What got missed by the architects of the Comm system such that the beacon was not activated automatically in the flight regime? Direct Law at cruise and 35k feet? A position report immediately to Mx base, that continues until impact needn't take up any of the crew's time, just as ACARS was the bearer of bad news about systems, why was ELT not Satellited to base? Money? Or was it?
The communicative aspects of the accident need a look, but it isn't just the radios that are important here. Weather Brief, The conversation Captain DuBois had with the Iberia crew, the inter station gab ATLANTICO/DAKAR, The Lufthansa flight, AF base ops, etc. The folder is quite large. Most accident reports include sufficient data for a conclusion regarding the accident, subject to the data recovered, but miss a gold mine of Industry introspection that may be of even more benefit to the Public and the carriers. The reason? Private enterprise, when in Public Carriage, is a special beast.
It needs to start with detoxifying the "Proprietary" position of the Principals.
In a corporate culture that values honesty and mission orientation, there is a benefit in safety. Financial loss and degraded market share considerations have gotten so rabid that they are starting to kill us.
The format must start migrating to an open and public spirited goal, rather than a secretive and defensive "Hold the Line" exercise. Not an easy accomplishment in an environment of declining gross seat numbers, storage of a/c, and fear.
Best of luck to Great Bear.
bear