4 ms·

It's ironic that it's a Boeing with bad software (or sensors) interfering between yoke and plane. After all, historically, Boeing has had the philosophy of tru

It's ironic that it's a Boeing with bad software (or sensors) interfering between yoke and plane. After all, historically, Boeing has had the philosophy of trusting the pilot with direct control of the plane. This is in comparison with Airbus, where controls are by stick instead of yoke, and pilots are taught to trust the flight computer and move the controls less. (Of course, these days both manufacturers build fly-by-wire planes.) [1] The addition of a 'maneuvering characteristics augmentation system' seems very unlike Boeing. I guess it became necessary after adding too-big engines without otherwise adjusting the airframe... [2] This "we'll fix it with software later" attitude works well with CPU errata and maybe Teslas, but it doesn't look like we're there yet for airplanes, unfortunately. [1] https://www.pprune.org/tech-log/10321-stick-vs-yoke-airbus-vs-boeing.html#post101426 https://www.pprune.org/tech-log/10321-stick-vs-yoke-airbus-v... [2] https://theaircurrent.com/aviation-safety/what-is-the-boeing-737-max-maneuvering-characteristics-augmentation-system-mcas-jt610/ https://theaircurrent.com/aviation-safety/what-is-the-boeing...

sk5t 8y ago
Ditto, it was my impression that direct control / mechanical linkage was the underpinning for the "if it's not Boeing I'm not going" mindset.
js2 8y ago
Re: “we'll fix it with software later" On Mar 12th 2019 Boeing issued following release with respect to MCAS, Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian flight 302: For the past several months and in the aftermath of Lion Air Flight 610, Boeing has been developing a flight control software enhancement for the 737 MAX, designed to make an already safe aircraft even safer. This includes updates to the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) flight control law, pilot displays, operation manuals and crew training. The enhanced flight control law incorporates angle of attack (AOA) inputs, limits stabilizer trim commands in response to an erroneous angle of attack reading, and provides a limit to the stabilizer command in order to retain elevator authority. ... The FAA says it anticipates mandating this software enhancement with an Airworthiness Directive (AD) no later than April. We have worked with the FAA in development of this software enhancement. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c534c4a&opt=0 http://avherald.com/h?article=4c534c4a&opt=0
- dis-sys 8y ago
  From Boeing's statement - "Boeing has been developing a flight control software enhancement for the 737 MAX, designed to make an already safe aircraft even safer". Just unbelievable. For the concerned software "enhancement", the undisputed fact here is that the current MCAS can crash the aircraft when the sensor reading is wrong. Apparently, that is now considered as "already safe" by Boeing! To be honest, that is not a "software enhancement", it is an urgent fix for a life critical system. It is also important to notice that as of writing, FAA still refuses to ground all 737 Max for a full investigation. I don't think FAA is going to be that nice towards say Airbus aircrafts. It is a pure political move aimed nothing else but to trade human lives for some cheap protectionism for its domestic companies. 340+ real people already dead, 737 Max are being grounded by more and more countries, FAA still refuses to follow to do the right thing. Shame on FAA and Boeing.

sk5t 8y ago

Ditto, it was my impression that direct control / mechanical linkage was the underpinning for the "if it's not Boeing I'm not going" mindset.

js2 8y ago

Re: “we'll fix it with software later" On Mar 12th 2019 Boeing issued following release with respect to MCAS, Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian flight 302: For the past several months and in the aftermath of Lion Air Flight 610, Boeing has been developing a flight control software enhancement for the 737 MAX, designed to make an already safe aircraft even safer. This includes updates to the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) flight control law, pilot displays, operation manuals and crew training. The enhanced flight control law incorporates angle of attack (AOA) inputs, limits stabilizer trim commands in response to an erroneous angle of attack reading, and provides a limit to the stabilizer command in order to retain elevator authority. ... The FAA says it anticipates mandating this software enhancement with an Airworthiness Directive (AD) no later than April. We have worked with the FAA in development of this software enhancement. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c534c4a&opt=0 http://avherald.com/h?article=4c534c4a&opt=0

dis-sys 8y ago
From Boeing's statement - "Boeing has been developing a flight control software enhancement for the 737 MAX, designed to make an already safe aircraft even safer". Just unbelievable. For the concerned software "enhancement", the undisputed fact here is that the current MCAS can crash the aircraft when the sensor reading is wrong. Apparently, that is now considered as "already safe" by Boeing! To be honest, that is not a "software enhancement", it is an urgent fix for a life critical system. It is also important to notice that as of writing, FAA still refuses to ground all 737 Max for a full investigation. I don't think FAA is going to be that nice towards say Airbus aircrafts. It is a pure political move aimed nothing else but to trade human lives for some cheap protectionism for its domestic companies. 340+ real people already dead, 737 Max are being grounded by more and more countries, FAA still refuses to follow to do the right thing. Shame on FAA and Boeing.