[mdlug] [Microsoft Bashing]Stop the car I need to fix my radio

[Rich Elswick]

damn, I knew I didn't put enough words and description in there for this
list!  Thanks for that info... good to know for my next round of Who Wants
to be a Millionaire!

On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 11:13 PM, Robert Meier <list1c30fe42 at bellsouth.net>wrote:

> Rich,
>
> > As to having issues with these operating system software controlling
> > things... have you flown in an airplane lately?  They can takeoff,
> > fly the route and land without pilot interaction if desired,
> > but in most cases they pilots do the take off and landings,
> > hence why they can get loaded before hand!
>
> FAA type certification and airworthiness regulations (14 CFR)
> do not permit single point of failure design (Part 15)
> nor flight initiation (Part 61, 91, 121, 135) without
> operative primary and backup flight systems (MEL).  The B767
> was the first "fly-by-wire" certified civilian aircraft.  The
> B767 certification required proving an expected death toll from
> software defect of IIRC less than 1 passenger death per 200,000
> plane-years.  In the event of a logic failure, depressing
> a "big button" between the B767 pilot and copilot stations
> disconnects the pitch augmentation control (fly-by-wire)
> and the flight surfaces operate in a ganged and aerodynamically
> stable (but fuel inefficient) mode.  All other US type
> certificated licensed aircraft not of this series
> nor powered lift category are required to be able to fly with
> inoperative "control logic" (positive dynamic and positive
> or neutral static stability in pitch, yaw, roll, fugoid,
> and other modes).
>
> In other words, software control is encouraged if it enhances
> performance (e.g fuel economy, range, endurance, speed, ...)
> and does not degrade safety, but the FAA requires "mathematical"
> proof that so long as the hardware functions, the software cannot
> crash, hang, or go out of control, and that if the hardware
> malfunctions, the hardware must be disconnectable.
>
> IMHO, the recent administration has dangerously undermined
> the ability of the FAA and pilots to enforce the training,
> compliance, and inspection regulations, but only very
> recently has enough time transpired that US type certificated
> designs may be affected.
>
> Clear skies,
> --
> Bob
>
>  "The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the
>   universe is that none of it has tried to contact *us*."
>     -- Calvin and Hobbs
>
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-- 
Rich Elswick
http://www.moyaentertainment.com