> all of the problems could potentially have been avoided by changing [code-snippet]
IMO, this implies the problem was a simple, single software problem. Firstly, that's in inaccurate assumption. Secondly, even if that assumption wasn't implied, one can't just say 'ooh, modify this if statement' with any authority because one does't know what the underlying algorithm looks like in the first place.
> The system as implemented could not have a "re-command full-nose down after reset".
For brevity, my comment lacked certain detail. The MCAS system was reset after pilots used the trim switches on the column. However, the MCAS did not account for this, and it's overall authority was allowed to point the plane full nose-down. See [1].
> In my view when a seemingly largely self-regulated group goes off and designs something with so many glaring issues
This is the point I'm mostly trying to make. When I read a column or comment that says "Oh, it was just the sensors" or "Oh, it was just the simple software problem," that's really helping Boeing's narrative. It's not just a simple mistake, it's a total failure of Boeing and regulators and cannot be understated.
1: https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/faile...
Sorry to nitpick on one thing here; but I don't know that having an AoA disagree alert would be that useful. There was already an airspeed disagree alert, and AoA disagree strongly implies airspeed disagree, because AoA is involved in the airspeed calculation. Furthermore, knowing an AoA sensor is broken wouldn't be super useful without a workable procedure to do something about it; in the Ethiopia crash, the procedure followed was insufficient to regain control.
B737 airspeed disagree I believe just requires 5 knots disagreement for more than 5 seconds between left/right IAS. No AoA involved.
There may be some confusion happening due to the events in the Lion Air B737 Max. The maintenance crew tried to address what they believed were ADIRU/ADR issues in previous flights... including as a possible source of erratic airspeed indications and airspeed disagree warnings. So there are some discussions of airspeed disagree in relation to that aircraft. There may be a lot going on there we don't know about yet, with say faulty ADIRU/ADR causing multiple problems. The ADIRU has inputs from the AoA vane but does not use that in calculating airspeed, it is using that to drive stick shakers/pushers and optional display AoA, and unfortunately in these cases to also drive MCAS.
Having a AoA disagree indication (and/or full AoA display option) might have allowed more prompt diagnosis of problems, but only if pilots were aware of and trained on MCAS. And even then, yes it's a minor point. I was not intending to claim that itself is a deep solution here, just not having a disagree warning as standard was a bad decision. The entire system, and overall approach taken by Boeing seems tragically deeply flawed.
Philip Greenspun's speculation is a plausible concern, that is all it needs to be a valuable point, that type of data limit handling ought to be considered as the system is looked at. I read his post that he was talking a specific simple example, all the other types of things you mention could also be looked at. How the AoA sensors failed, any potential issues with signal handling, and especially what happened with the Lion Air AoA sensor repaired in Florida need to be investigated, that sensor repair sure seems to be. (BTW data handling in aviation is pretty interesting,
Greenspun is a fairly unique combination of EE/CS/past MIT lecturer/geek and experienced pilot, including holding an ATP certificate and flying for regional airlines.
The system as implemented could not have a "re-command full-nose down after reset". To start with there is not really a "reset" for MCAS. The pilot's only way to fully disabling MCAS continuing to do bad things is via STAB TRIM cutout switches. The STAB TRIM cutout switches are required to handle lots of other problems. e.g. runaway full nose down trim. The stabilizer trim system itself is a dumb as a rock, and has no idea where the trim should be set to if the power is restored to it. I suspect the only likely sensible behavior of the trim system itself is that it makes no automatic change. If MCAS is driving the trim wrong and if it was possible to remove the MCAS input to the trim system then the pilot should be able to reset the trim they want (with then hopefully functioning electric trim switches), or allow the autopilot to do it (outside of MCAS the A/P is the other automatic system that manages the stabilizer trim). The problem is that was not anywhere in Boeing's plans here, there was no way to separate MCAS going nuts and commanding extreme trim changes, from the actual stabilizer trim system.
However I do agree with your sentiment about (all the other) bad mistakes. In my view when a seemingly largely self-regulated group goes off and designs something with so many glaring issues (single AoA sensor source, lack of documentation and training, not even having a standard AoA disagree alert, etc.) and other possible issues (rationale of extension of MCAS trim authority, trim wheel forces needed to crank mechanical trim at stabilizer trim limits, Boeing slowness in responding to issues etc.) then everything needs to be looked at. My hope is there are very thorough investigations, of the actual systems, of all the proposed remedies (which separately, I am not convinced are enough), of Boeing, and of the failure of FAA oversight here. And I hope that is done as fast as possible, and as slow as really needed.