However, this larger engine, which delivered a further 14% fuel efficiency had to be fitted further forward under the low wings of the 737. This potentially may cause the plane to stall. Stalling is bad. It is basically when a plane stops flying and starts falling.
In order to avoid this, Boeing installed the new MCAS software. This software is designed to tell the plane to move its nose down to increase its speed and avoid it from stalling.
So here comes the problem.
In the computer world, we have this term called GIGO. The old school fella's will know this. Yes. Garbage In, Garbage Out.
The problem based on the findings so far is this.
On the plane there is a sensor called the Alpha Vane which measures the Angle of Attack (AOA) of the plane. It looks like a small little wing, and they have two of it, one on the pilot side, and the other on the co-pilot's.
The sensor's job is to tell the computer the angle the plane is flying at. And if the AOA of the plane is too high, this will result in the plane stalling. Typically the AOA is below 15 to 20 degrees, and the new MCAS software will push the plane's nose down if it thinks that the AOA is too high.
Now.
With flight JT610, the Alpha Vane sensor measuring the AOA on the Captain's side was reported to be faulty. So they changed it. That fault was reported from the equally harrowing flight from Bali to Jakarta.
On the fateful final flight, the plane which arrived from Bali the night before, had the sensor changed, and then it took off in the morning.
No one knew what was really wrong with the plane, or about the new MCAS software. No one. Not the maintenance folks, and in fact not even the pilot. He apparently wasn't trained on it yet.
So they flew the plane.
And once in the air, the faulty sensor told the computer that the plane is stalling. The computer then, without the pilot ever knowing pushed the nose of the plane down further, while the pilot was trying to raise the plane.
In this battle between the pilot and the computer, the computer won. And the pilot, the crew, and the passengers lost and they died. The plane was too low, and the pilot didn't have enough air to raise the plane and fly it.
The computer literally flew the plane into the ocean.
A few weeks later, Boeing issued an update on the plane, and informed that should the plane have an issue with it's AOA sensors, one of the way to stop the computer was to switch it off!
Apparently 189 lives could have been saved, had the pilot knew about the software, and flipped a switch to turn it off.
A switch!
A single simple switch was the difference between life and death.
I am still fuming thinking about this. A switch!
Computers are really going to be the end of us all, because while a man makes mistakes, to really, really screw up; you need a computer!''
#copied
Sad. Should there not be updates on new additions? RIP to the lost lives.
ReplyDeleteAnother death by Plane Crash.Rip to the lives lost and fortitude to the bereaved.The safety of passengers should be of utmost importance in any of these means of transport na
ReplyDeleteSo why didnt boeing them about this new sofyware when they were buying it? and also insist that pilots must be trained on it?
ReplyDeleteOh God!!!
ReplyDeleteWhatw an avoidable death!!
Imagine
Hmmmmmm....technology vs human
ReplyDeleteNa wao for all these technological flotsam and jetsam. Too too bad.
ReplyDeleteOh dear! The same thing probably happened with the ET302.
ReplyDeleteWhy are you mad? With IT you learn very quickly that real world mistakes have to happen first before they come up with a solution. I am positive Boeing ran simulation tests before they made that statement. They will come out with another statement after the details of the Ethiopian airlines plane blackbox is played. My mom always told me don't be the first to jump on new things, particularly pharmaceuticals and technology, wait until about a year or so when they have found out the kinks and resolved them.
ReplyDeleteAll airlines should stop flying the plane until Boeing gives them all the info, and apparently they have no plans to update the info. So travelers better know which plane is flying their route and make their choice accordingly.
Gbam
DeleteSo sad. I knew the plane must’ve stalled but the reason for the stall.... man, this is crazy.
DeleteRip to them
ReplyDeletehmmm so sad
ReplyDeleteJesus!!
ReplyDeleteThis is sad. Particularly heart wrenching watching people who lost their loved ones grieving on TV. May their souls rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad.so much death
ReplyDeleteLet boeing and Airbus continue with what works pls, cant be playing kachi with peoples lives na.
ReplyDeleteIf this is correct, then Boeing is liable and should be sued for negligence and withholding information from airlines that bought the plane after the Indonesian crash. By trying to improve efficiency and save on fuel cost, all these people have become the guinea pigs to their beta testing. Sad!
ReplyDeleteRip to them
ReplyDeleteThis is sad, and pilots should always be trained and updated.
ReplyDeleteThanks ma for this info. May computer not be the end of us all.
ReplyDeleteContinuous training is key in all industries. These mishaps may have been avoided if the pilots were trained on these features of the new plane.
ReplyDeleteMay God grant their Families the fortitude to bear the loss. May eternal rest be granted unto their soul Amen
ReplyDelete