glendalegoon:
Two pilots died. This is sad.Over 50 years ago many in the industry said every runway served by a jet transport should have an ILS.
"Should" is the operative word.
BHM runway 18 close-in obstacle environment precludes an ILS.
The crew could have safely flown the LOC approach had they not used the airport reference point as their active waypoint, had they not selected 1,500 fpm on VS, and had they observed the note requiring use of the PAPI.
The crew will eat this one big time. RIP.