The captain's "Prend ça" is echoed three times by the PNF. The BEA nor the judicial group of experts understand what "ça" refers to. The next item on the CVR record is the PF saying that he has 'no vario' "there". Both the BEA and the judicial experts attribute that to the VSI needle being on the stop, but it has been there (6000 fpm) for some time.
Therefore I think the PF is replying to the captain and the PNF, who have been pointing to the standby instrument, which doesn't indicate V/S.
EDIT:
Why is it a problem for the PF that he doesn't have V/S? I can understand a pilot needs V/S to maintain altitude or a certain value of V/S. Both pilots have expressed more than once that they've lost control, the altimeter is spooling down rapidly, and the PF announces: "Ï have a problem, it's that I don't have vertical speed indication"?
Last edited by HazelNuts39; 1st Jul 2013 at 17:18.