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posted by janrinok on Thursday April 09 2020, @02:28PM   Printer-friendly
from the long-path-to-recovery dept.

Boeing making new 737 MAX software updates to address computer issue:

Boeing Co (BA.N) said late on Tuesday it will make two new software updates to the 737 MAX's flight control computer as it works to win regulatory approval to resume flights after the jet was grounded following two fatal crashes in five months.

The planemaker confirmed to Reuters that one issue involves hypothetical faults in the flight control computer microprocessor, which could potentially lead to a loss of control known as a runaway stabilizer, while the other issue could potentially lead to disengagement of the autopilot feature during final approach. Boeing said the software updates will address both issues.

The Federal Aviation Administration said on Tuesday it is in contact with Boeing as it "continues its work on the automated flight control system on the 737 MAX. The manufacturer must demonstrate compliance with all certification standards."

The largest U.S. planemaker has been dealing with a number of software issues involving the plane that has been grounded since March 2019. Boeing halted production in January. Boeing said it does not expect the issues to impact its current forecast of a mid-year return to service for the plane. Boeing said the new software issues are not tied to a key anti-software system known as MCAS faulted in both fatal crashes.


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  • (Score: 2) by Thexalon on Friday April 10 2020, @02:59PM (1 child)

    by Thexalon (636) on Friday April 10 2020, @02:59PM (#980822)

    One bit of the FAA policies that is very relevant when talking about their lack of regulation on software is this boilerplate security-by-obscurity argument [schneier.com] (and I'm proud to say I was actually responsible for bringing that to Bruce Schneier's attention, leading to that blog post). It's a minor miracle that we haven't had more planes dropping out of the sky due to software problems.

    --
    The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 10 2020, @08:20PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 10 2020, @08:20PM (#980904)

    Thankfully, most systems on a plane are fully redundant with a backup system too. Something goes wrong, you can disable the system acting up. One AP/FD freaks out? Just switch to the other one and fly in a slightly-degraded mode. One hydraulic system leaks? Switch it off, PAN PAN, and land. Electrical bus fails? Engine dies? Radio fails? Pitot clogs? Pilot incapacitated? Pressurization failure? There are backups for all of that. Even given all that, most people aren't aware of how many incidents there actually are in the air because the plane lands relatively uneventfully.