Let put in single syllables, until you have an emergency, you are not empowered to break the rules.
It would not matter how much fuel they each arrived with. As both did not have fuel to divert elsewhere, they had no flight fuel, all they had left was approach fuel.
As for the different methods that each crew took to getting on the ground, each did what they determined was the most appropriate for that crew at the time.
It is easy for all of us to sit here and examine each crew's actions in minute detail. We are not flying around in clear air above a layer of fog knowing that what you do in the next few minutes could all turn to
It is a simple fact that the forecasts caught both crew out.
To compound the QF situation was the fact that the amended forecast for Adelaide was delayed by "sterile cockpit" procedures. To me "sterile cockpit" procedure is to to keep the crew concentrated on aircraft operations and not talking about nappy changing at 2am.
Are forecasts no longer considered to be applicable to aircraft operations?
Given the circumstances that both crew faced, they both did a fantastic job.
I am impressed on how the Virgin crew determined their course of action.
Maybe one or both of the QF had done that approach to Mildura and knew where the runway would be in relation to the approach track.
The flight briefing package indicated that the aircraft was capable of conducting an automatic landing4 and the crew reported that they were trained and current on auto-land procedures.
Could/would have QF landed in Adelaide if they knew Mildura was going bad?