[OT] “Raise the nose, HAL.” “I’m sorry, Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

[Tony]

On Sunday, 21 April 2019 at 19:52:58 UTC, Walter Bright wrote:
> But it wasn't about cost saving, another scurrilous charge by 
> the author. The fact that a fix is a software update is 
> evidence enough that it was a mistake, not some blind greed.

Which software system is cheaper to design and test, one that 
uses ONE sensor for input, or one that uses TWO sensors (one that 
is part of the "other side of the cockpit system"),  and makes 
sure they both agree - and then notifying the pilots something 
was wrong and then automatically taking MCAS out of the equation?

Which software system is cheaper to design and test, one that 
keeps track of whether the pilot is fighting its attempts to move 
the nose down or one that just ignores what the pilot is doing 
and keeps on blindly moving the nose down?

Which software system is cheaper to design and test, one that 
keeps track of previous movements of the "nose-down" system to 
see if further movement would be indicated or makes sense, or one 
that just keeps going "more nose-down" with no care about what 
has already transpired?

The fact that a software fix is "part of the fix" does not 
demonstrate that "no cost savings took place in software 
development".

In addition to changing the software, they are going to not 
charge $80,000 for an indicator light that notifies the pilots 
when the angle-of-attack sensors disagree. Boeing actually 
charged $80,000 dollars for them to let you know their system was 
destined for failure. Boeing is also now stating that they will 
give extra training for the 737 MAX 8, something they avoided 
previously due to the cost.

>
> There's more, but I should stop here. I'm just tired of these 
> hit pieces from people who only partially know what they're 
> talking about. I'll fly in a 737Max any day.

Boeing management's reaction to two similar fatal crashes of the 
737 MAX 8 was "let us keep flying them". There should be people 
in jail after this fiasco and once let out they should be 
forbidden from working in the aviation industry (includes FAA 
personnel). But, as we saw in the Space Shuttle Challenger 
disaster, no one will do jail time or be punished with fines or 
being forbidden to work in the industry for "business decisions" 
that ultimately killed people.