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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.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by bzipitidoo on Saturday April 11 2020, @01:35AM (1 child)
> I still can't figure out what happens to mgt. types.
I also wondered that.
It varies. They can fall from favor, and never recover. It can take more than one disaster. 2nd chances seem to be a bit more frequent for the management class. Even 3rd chances. But it's not many, and 3 or 4 small disasters or 1 big one can finish their careers. I've seen that happen. I know at least 2 ex-managers who were demoted, and finished the last decade or 2 of their working lives on the bottom rung, no one reporting to them, just glad to still have a job, swallowing the humiliation of it all. I also know of a few other ex-managers who would not take the demotion, instead storming out and away to another job where they thought their amazing talents would be better appreciated and utilized. But there's only so much of that any manager can do before it becomes too difficult to explain to yet another prospective employer why they keep changing jobs. And I know of yet another manager who stank it up and lost the contract, and yet was actually rewarded with a promotion to VP. I can only guess he must have had a lot of valuable contacts, and perhaps the move was something of a kick upstairs.
It also depends on how independently wealthy they are. The rich especially buy into the myth that management, particularly upper management of course, is the ultimate in careers, and won't give up trying to manage others no matter how bad they are at it. There are many elite private schools that cater to this thinking. They call it "leadership", because that sounds a lot sexier than "management". They offer a pretty good education, but not for the sake of education, no, education is but a tool, a means to an end. And what end might that be? Being in position to maximize the exploitation for their own selfish goals. Many aren't much interested in education as something pleasurable and virtuous in itself. One indication is that these schools cling to archaic and outmoded education methods that have been shown to be counterproductive, stuff such as shamings and even beatings for getting bad grades. Even if the schools themselves know better, they have to do it anyway because that's the way the parents want it. See, for example, the Robin Williams movie, Dead Poets Society.
These rich leaders can cock it up again and again and again, and super rich Daddy will bail them out almost every time. The terrible ones are masters at self-delusion about how great they are at management, and will have an endless list of tiresomely predictable excuses about why the latest disaster is not really their fault, it's all the fault of their lazy and stupid underlings, and bad luck, cutthroat competition, and the entire body public for not appreciating their brilliant work and lining up to buy whatever it is they were making. And it was a risky proposition anyway.
As to how someone is tapped for management in the first place, that too is riddled with problematic thinking. So often the loudmouthed ignoramus is mistaken as an aggressive go-getter. They undervalue technical knowledge and skills, and overvalue aggression and outright bullying. And you don't really think the upper class twits in charge are any good at discerning who will make a good manager, if they're no good at management themselves.
If you are wondering why so much management is crap, that's why. Not much merit involved in choosing managers. It's also been shown that voters actually don't like a candidate who is too good, too smart. They want their elected leaders to be only a little smarter than themselves. No doubt that preference is also reflected in management.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 12 2020, @03:14PM
Well I think lots more people will follow the guy confidently saying loudly "FOLLOW ME! I KNOW THE WAY!" even if he's wrong than follow some nerd saying "I think this could be one of the better paths given the little we know at the moment".
What can work is a confident leader sort of person who is humble and wise enough to listen to the smart people and ignore them at the right times - because sometimes you just have to make the call and take a leap (no choice sometimes).