Originally Posted by
Checkboard
"have regard but not do anything" - I find that faintly ridiculous, and wouldn't want to walk into court with that as my defense. In any case I disagree, but hey-ho.
I don't think anyone disputes that. The long sector inbound to Norfolk meant that the destination was (under ICAO Annex 6) a "remote aerodrome", in that the aircraft couldn't carry enough fuel for an alternate. Under Australian rules at the time, and as an airwork flight, that was legal. International Authorities generally require two hours holding for a remote aerodrome and don't classify Air Ambo as airwork. In that sense the pilot was operating under a regularory system which was less safe than international standards.
Well CB, that’s precisely the point.
The PIC could have made zero mistakes (even those conjured up by the Monday morning quarterbacks) and he could have carried full fuel (even assuming it was legal, given the other stuff on board the aircraft), and the aircraft
is still in the drink, somewhere.