No Highway in the Sky

Re. Boeing 737 MAX crashes.

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I would explain it thus.

The plane has a couple of sensors that can trigger an automated dive response. The system is needed because the plane is inherently prone to stalling because of outdated aerodynamics on an overengineered design.

Most of time these sensors work well and do not trigger the automated dive. Occasionally the sensors malfunction and trigger the automatic dive. The controls the pilots use to manually fly the plane (yoke, pedals) cannot fly the plane once this is triggered. The automated dive program must be shut off before this control can be recovered. In the two crashes the pilots did not know about this. One of the planes that crashed had the same problem a day before but they happened to have a pilot as a passenger who knew how to kill the program.

Think about it this way. You have a car that has an automated braking system. You have sensors that will brake for you in the event of the sensors sensing an obstacle in front of you. Well supposed some kicked up mud covers the sensors. The sensors react by suddenly braking without your input. Your gas and brake pedal don't work to counteract this. You come to a stop for no reason. If you are on a busy highway you hope there is not a Mack truck on your ass.

Now imagine, instead you are in a highway in the sky and the equivalent happens. No danger of being rear ended but of course you will crash as you have to be moving forward always to fly.

Some people need to go to prison for this.

 

To be clear this was the Lion plane, the first crash. There was supposed to be pilot training on how to avoid the problem. I heard a pilot on the radio after the latest crash state that the training wasn't very extensive and consisted mostly of computer based training. I also think Boeing changed the software.

 

Ethiopia crash captain did not train on airline's MAX simulator: source | Reuters

Southwest pilots say extra training required after 737 MAX software update | Reuters

 

Here is an article from Vox that gives a good explanation.

The emerging 737 MAX scandal, explained

 

Here is another article from the Seattle Times that explains the cozy relationship between Boeing and the FAA.

Flawed analysis, failed oversight: How Boeing, FAA certified the suspect 737 MAX flight control system

 

Don't get on a plane where the jet engines are affixed in front of the wings.

 

Most of this is not new but it's the clearest explanation I've seen so far.

How the Boeing 737 Max Disaster Looks to a Software Developer

 

This is quite excellent.

 

Goddam unions

 

346 deaths and many months later. In case you ever wondered if companies put the stock price ahead of human beings.

Boeing fires embattled CEO Dennis Muilenburg

"The company says the change in leadership was "necessary to restore confidence in the company as it works to repair relationships with regulators, customers, and all other stakeholders."

 

So if the fix is just a simple manual override, why are the planes still grounded?