recently, i went to an interesting little seminar on a software simulator for the G1000 (advanced flight instruments, aka "glass cockpit"). having been in software development for almost 30 years i am always cautious about technology. this article on a recent 777 crash at heathrow caught my attention: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3216746.ece
down in the article there is a little info on a 777 incident on August 1, 2005. look for the comment 'combination of a failed sensor and “a software anomaly” had created an “unexpected situation that had not been foreseen” and for which the crew had not been trained'.
i do wonder how easy it is to become dependent on the G1000 and lose proficiency with the "steam gauges". software testing is always an interesting area and is a continuous process even for unchanged software because the environment around it is always changing.
1 comment:
As an instructor Doug, I'd say it is very to become dependent on the technology.
It looks every engaging, offers up all kinds of information we never had before and seems to think about ansers before the pilot thinks of the question.
It acts a bit like a new friend that has come to give you a hand with the heavy lifting, I think.
Pull the breaker watch the display die and I've seen students completely focus on trying to make the screens come back alive and forget to fly the airplane.
On steam gauges, we usually only lost one at a time so the pace was a bit less frantic.
Rob Mark
www.jetwhine.com
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