Originally Posted by
roulishollandais
Is it usual to see such mistakes punished by nine months firm jail?
I for one don't know - this is an aviation forum, not a legal forum.
Speaking for myself, I have grave reservations with the practice of treating every aviation accident as a criminal case regardless of circumstance, as seems to be the norm on the continent (and has happened here with similarly uncomfortable results).
What is certainly true is that the technical investigation and report by the BEA had no significant bearing on the outcome of the prosecution, and indeed the report practically handed Capt. Asseline a lifeline by pointing out the airline's slapdash approach to flight preparation and briefing. Why his legal team failed to take advantage of this remains baffling to me.