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> There are documented instances of metric/imperial mixups crashing space probes and forcing airliners to land after running out of fuel in midair and such thin
by mpyne 14y ago
> There are documented instances of metric/imperial mixups crashing space probes and forcing airliners to land after running out of fuel in midair and such things.
As I recall, the Gimli glider came about because they were trying to switch to include metric units and had to change their procedure to do it, but didn't make the change in all places where it was necessary. This resulted in pilots using an Imperial conversion factor to try to calculate a metric fuel loadout, with disastrous results. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli_Glider#Refueling http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli_Glider#Refueling
... this isn't exactly selling me on the idea that switching up all the units used in the U.S. is actually a good idea.
- mikeash 14y agoThis sort of error can happen any time you have mixed units, though, and as long as some countries insist on not using metric, the potential is there. The potential goes away once you switch, so as long as the costs for switching and for staying mixed are both finite and non-zero, it makes sense to switch now and get it over with.