Slashdot Mirror
Computers Key To Air France Crash
Michael_Curator writes "It's no secret that commercial airplanes are heavily computerized, but as the mystery of Air France Flight 447 unfolds, we need to come to grips with the fact that in many cases, airline pilots' hands are tied when it comes to responding effectively to an emergency situation. Boeing planes allow pilots to take over from computers during emergency situations, Airbus planes do not. It's not a design flaw — it's a philosophical divide. It's essentially a question of what do you trust most: a human being's ingenuity or a computer's infinitely faster access and reaction to information. It's not surprising that an American company errs on the side of individual freedom while a European company is more inclined to favor an approach that relies on systems. As passengers, we should have the right to ask whether we're putting our lives in the hands of a computer rather than the battle-tested pilot sitting up front, and we should have right to deplane if we don't like the answer."
No, I just like to point out that anti-Americanism is as useful and pigheaded a sentiment as pro-Americanism. Maybe if I point that out in a completely offensive way, it'll stick. I used to take the high road, but... life's too short. Sometimes you just need to rub a dog's nose in its own shit and get it over with.
Oh come on, you could have made a good joke like "Why are Boeing pilots so battle-tested in the first place?" or "Airbus pilots can't become battle-tested because every failure is fatal."
Or something. Try again!
-b
No offense, but I've stopped responding to AC's.
Speaking as somebody who once wore a Boeing namebadge, 'if it ain't Boeing, I ain't going.' Computer control concerns aside, Airbuses can't dump fuel, so if something happens (and things have happened) where an Airbus must be near empty because of a stuck landing gear (also a little too common on Airbus), you get to sit tight for HOURS AND HOURS waiting in circles for the engines to eat fuel.
I support the Slashcott and will not be reading or commenting from 2/10/14 to 2/17/14. Beta is steaming pile of dog shit
"anti-european". Please. As if pointing out that Europeans and Americans have philosophical differences is "anti-european". The European view on liberty-- and this is reflected in European law and popular culture-- is weighted on the side of the common good. American law and culture, for better or for worse, is weighted on the side of personal freedom, individualism. Both approaches have their merits and disadvantages-- I don't think I need to enumerate them here-- but the upshot is that European policy tends to be socially progressive and fiscally conservative. American policy is exactly the opposite.
Maybe it was callous of the poster to point this out with regard to the issue of control of the plane. Maybe the one thing had nothing to do with the other. But if it did, it wouldn't surprise me, because Europeans and Americans are different as Europeans are so fucking fond of pointing out.