With so much automation becoming dependent on some fairly basic technology (AoA sensors and pitot tubes) that are hugely vulnerable to external influences (damage, ice accretion etc.) it seems to me it’s becoming time for manufactureres to step back from ‘because we can’ to ‘is this wise?’.

Apologies for the long sentence.

If these multiple eyewitness reports are correct, a lot of people may have jumped the gun.

https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-e...-idUKKBN1QS1LH

Each to their own. I have flown on the Max twice, once AA and once FI. Will I get on another one at this point in time? Not under any circumstances, period. If you read the thread on Pprune about this, and yes, I know it is rumours and conjecture, it appears there is a strong possibility that a design fault exists which can put the aircraft into a sharp nose down attitude at very low altitude leaving seconds to overcome the problem. Consensus there is that it is a recoverable situation but only if the crew react impeccably and locate the right switches to disable the right systems at the same time as panic is likely setting in as the ground is suddenly looming. And no, disconnection of the autopilot does not override the erroneous control inputs. And no, pulling back on the column doesn't work well either - it requires circa 60kg of force to override the system. No, I haven't flown a 737. I fly a sophisticated light aircraft so have some limited insight and no more. But I have read enough to see a pattern emerging. And whilst the theories may subsequently prove to be incorrect, they have sufficient credibility at this point to make me choose to stay away. Just checked my two domestic AA sectors next week and they are E90 and 319 respectively. But I say again, if irrops leads to a 737-max being substituted, I will refuse to board.

Oversimplifying, I know, but what about a bloody great button that disconnects all the automatics and resets all trim to neutral, and reverts to manual throttles ... and let the pilot fly the bloody thing manually? Or aren’t aome Captains able to do that any more? ;)

I wouldn’t dare post that on PPRuNe, of course. I’m not a pilot.

Eyewitnesses reported fire coming from the aircraft before it hit the ground. Best to let the facts emerge from the investigation rather than peddling speculation.

Correct, they only have one and it's grounded. 737-800s are still flying at the moment and there is no reason for that to change.

Oh, dammit, I've posted that on PPRuNe. I wonder how long that will last!

https://www.pprune.org/10414149-post460.html

I saw somewhere a fairly nice summation of Airbus aircraft being designed from day 1 to be automated, whilst Boeings are designed as a manual aircraft with ever increasing layers of automation to meet certification requirements. The MCAS on the 737 MAX reads like it might be a layer too far.

I was uncomfortable with a long, overwater 787 flight i took in the early days, and i'd be uncomfortable taking a 737 MAX flight now.

That's ok. If it turns out that there was a flaw pointed out and ignored somebody will be getting one!


*speaking as a defence lawyer with a few aircraft crashes under my belt

My understanding is that Airbus was designed from the ground up as a mostly automated aircraft, while the 737 in particular has been stretched, modified and tweaked so many times it only bears a passing resemblance to the original from the 60's. It seems like it's layers of modification upon modification, and as such the type approval process may not be as rigorous as a new type approval; so there is the potential for flaws to get missed.