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Software Bug Halts F-22 Flight

Posted by kdawson on from the dare-you-to-cross-this-line dept.

mgh02114 writes "The new US stealth fighter, the F-22 Raptor, was deployed for the first time to Asia earlier this month. On Feb. 11, twelve Raptors flying from Hawaii to Japan were forced to turn back when a software glitch crashed all of the F-22s' on-board computers as they crossed the international date line. The delay in arrival in Japan was previously reported, with rumors of problems with the software. CNN television, however, this morning reported that every fighter completely lost all navigation and communications when they crossed the international date line. They reportedly had to turn around and follow their tankers by visual contact back to Hawaii. According to the CNN story, if they had not been with their tankers, or the weather had been bad, this would have been serious. CNN has not put up anything on their website yet." The Peoples Daily of China reported on Feb. 17 that two Raptors had landed on Okinawa.

8 of 579 comments (clear)

  1. crash narrowly averted by User+956 · · Score: 5, Funny

    CNN television, however, this morning reported that every fighter completely lost all navigation and communications when they crossed the international date line.

    I've heard of a software glitch causing a crash before, but this is ridiculous.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  2. Ironically by mbrod · · Score: 5, Funny
    A few days ago reading up on good C++ coding techniques I came across Stroustrup's (creator of C++) page citing the coding rules used when working on the Joint Strike Fighter. Reading through the various rules used, this one caught my attention:

    AV Rule 25 (MISRA Rule 127)
    The time handling functions of library <time.h> shall not be used.

    I got to thinking if we had any decent alternatives (at least in C++). And yes there are alternatives and all of them looked equally bad to me. Looks like the F22 guys might have had the same problem finding and using a robust fault tolerant time library.

  3. Re:first post to say.. by alx5000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sure, but it seems they turned Aero off..

    --
    My 0.02 cents
  4. Actual dialog message... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    You are flying to Japan, Cancel or Allow?

  5. Re:Real redundancy by 0123456 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "NASA do not fly the space shuttle during 31 Dec -> 1 Jan"

    But they fly over the international date-line every 90 minutes or so with no problems :).

  6. Re:Overflow by El+Torico · · Score: 5, Funny

    How do you really feel about Rockwell Collins?

    --
    In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is usually crucified.
  7. Winning Tactic by R_Ramjet · · Score: 5, Funny

    The F-15's should have headed towards the international date line....

  8. they are very confident by Tharkban · · Score: 5, Funny

    You missed a point in that story.
    NASA is extremely careful with its software.
    They don't fly from Dec 31 to Jan 1 because they know exactly what would happen.

    --
    Tharkban (It is a signature after all)