takata;
still believe that a BEA hastily release of raw data would have caused more harm than good. Many things really need to be checked and cross-checked before reporting them to the public. Without expert analysis, it may be very harmful to everybody. Any inquiry needs time, patience and in depth processing in order to avoid mistakes and wrong conclusions.
Having done for some time now the work of interpreting flight data in flight data analysis programs I fully concur with your views.
The release of "raw" data is simply never done.
I made the observation long before anything was released after the recorders were found, that the data would not, (and may not) be able to provide us with the full picture of what happened and why.
There is no "magic" in the flight data or the CVR. It is without question, an interpretive process requiring thorough training and long experience. How someone may imagine themselves as capable of doing better alone, is a puzzle.
The release of the traces, (which is a
very long way from "raw data"), is sometimes done as part of the report, supporting the text and investigative work. Asking for or even demanding "the raw data" is the clearest indication of how little someone understands the flight data and accident investigation processes.
The impression that "the raw data" will give final, conclusive answers and "we will finally know what happened", is a misconception of the flight data and investigative process. A release of "the traces" without a thorough interpretation would indeed be a serious mistake and could even delay an understanding of what really happened.
While there are a few here whose capabilities have clearly been demonstrated and whose interpretations would benefit from being able to work with "the traces", the investigative process does not work that way and those capable of the work would know and understand that. The vast majority of us are not the "check-and-balance on the BEA" some may imagine themselves to be. When the report and the data are both available, there will be time enough for those who can do the engineering and flight safety work to verify, and critique where warranted.