Re:The Case Against Boeing
by kortilla on Saturday November 16, 2019 @03:32PM
(#21554785)
MCAS isn’t a safety critical system. If it was turning it off wouldn’t really be an option.
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It is in so far as the 737 MAX had an inherent stability issue due to the mounting position of the larger engines. And every system that can directly affect the control of the aircraft is by definition safety critical. Otherwise the majority of aircraft systems wouldn't be as all modern passenger aircraft can glide without engines pretty well. Following your logic engines wouldn't be safety critical neither.
Re:The Case Against Boeing
by WalterBright on Saturday November 16, 2019 @06:44PM
(#21555661)
> It is in so far as the 737 MAX had an inherent stability issue due to the mounting position of the larger engines.
I haven't heard it characterized as an instability by any reputable source. Just that the behavior in certain unusual circumstances did not match the earlier 737 behavior.
The aircraft did not have stability issues. The purpose of MCAS was about providing the right resistance profile to the controls. The aircraft was still stable from an aeronautical perspective.