Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 8: Bezos Takes Over the World

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 8: Bezos Takes Over the World

The yield curve just inverted.

It’s been threatening for months but it finally happened. It’s not a perfect predictor of a recession, but it has only been wrong twice since 1966. The average length to a recession has been about a year. If you have a recession a year from now, November 2020 will be a bloodbath.

Yeah, and don'tcha know us Demorats (sic) just cheer it on!

[joecct]

Re: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 8: Bezos Takes Over the World

Update on Boeing MCAS
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47722258

The upgrade to version 1.0.

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 8: Bezos Takes Over the World

The upgrade to version 1.0.

This is... entirely unacceptable. There shouldn't be a single beta or unfinished feature on something that is critical to life and safety. Or let's be honest, anything to do with commercial flights.

[GrinCDXX]

This is... entirely unacceptable. There shouldn't be a single beta or unfinished feature on something that is critical to life and safety. Or let's be honest, anything to do with commercial flights.

Their fix, while obviously an improvement over the plane flying itself into the ground, still leaves the pilot with a plane that has the tendency to want to pitch up too high. Seems to me the root issue that needs to be fixed are the sensors that seem to be not even close to reliable enough.

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 8: Bezos Takes Over the World

Their fix, while obviously an improvement over the plane flying itself into the ground, still leaves the pilot with a plane that has the tendency to want to pitch up too high. Seems to me the root issue that needs to be fixed are the sensors that seem to be not even close to reliable enough.

I'm not sure that's the problem. Wasn't the whole root cause the fact that they extended the fuselage and they had to adjust how the automated flight controls work? I don't recall exactly what it was, but I could have sworn I heard that somewhere.

If you need the computer to make the adjustments, your plane isn't airworthy. That's the kind of stuff they build into fighter jets. They can be inherently unstable because they need maneuverability.

I could be pulling all of this straight out of my a-s though, so YMMV.

Edit: Wiki has the following:

Boeing 737 MAX aircraft have engines mounted higher and further forward than previous 737 models. This engine relocation and the new nacelle shape cause an upward pitching moment. In order to pass Part 25 certification requirements, Boeing employed the MCAS to automatically apply nose-down trim when the aircraft is in steep turns or in low-speed, flaps-retracted flight. When the angle of attack (AOA) exceeds a limit that depends on airspeed and altitude, the system activates without notice to the pilot. The system is temporarily deactivated when a pilot trims the aircraft using a switch on the yoke

That's the one. The plane's design causes it to have an upward pitching moment. Isn't that a problem that shouldn't need to be fixed with another computer system?

[GrinCDXX]

Re: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 8: Bezos Takes Over the World

I'm not sure that's the problem. Wasn't the whole root cause the fact that they extended the fuselage and they had to adjust how the automated flight controls work? I don't recall exactly what it was, but I could have sworn I heard that somewhere.

If you need the computer to make the adjustments, your plane isn't airworthy. That's the kind of stuff they build into fighter jets. They can be inherently unstable because they need maneuverability.

I could be pulling all of this straight out of my a-s though, so YMMV.

You're right, the true root issue is that the airframe isn't as stable as a passenger jet is supposed to be because of what they had to do to make room for the larger engines. I guess what I meant is the sensors are what needs to be fixed short of scrapping the planes.

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 8: Bezos Takes Over the World

You're right, the true root issue is that the airframe isn't as stable as a passenger jet is supposed to be because of what they had to do to make room for the larger engines. I guess what I meant is the sensors are what needs to be fixed short of scrapping the planes.

Yeah, I should have clarified my answer was to a question you weren't asking. You're absolutely right as well. Because we all know Boeing isn't going to scrap the airframe.

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 8: Bezos Takes Over the World

And actually, I didn't realize McNerney was CEO a Boeing when this was all being designed. That guy was awful. He was basically shown the door at my company because his GE model crap was killing our corporation just like it will kill GE.

All of this sh-t came from the top.

[GrinCDXX]

Re: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 8: Bezos Takes Over the World

Another thing that really confuses me about the design of this system is that it apparently isn't using the pilot's control inputs as another signal that it can use. Meaning, if the pilot is aggressively trying to pitch the nose up, shouldn't the system just automatically stop trying to pitch the nose down; then raise an alarm, and disable itself?

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 8: Bezos Takes Over the World

Another thing that really confuses me about the design of this system is that it apparently isn't using the pilot's control inputs as another signal that it can use. Meaning, if the pilot is aggressively trying to pitch the nose up, shouldn't the system just automatically stop trying to pitch the nose down; then raise an alarm, and disable itself?

Yeah, that's the thing that just baffled me about this whole system. I thought the pilot was god on an aircraft. I don't like the idea of computers being god.

[rufus]

Re: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 8: Bezos Takes Over the World

Meanwhile, while Red Don and the Chinese president continue to try to work out a trade deal, China orders 300 Airbuses.

[Kepler]

Re: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 8: Bezos Takes Over the World

Meanwhile, while Red Don and the Chinese president continue to try to work out a trade deal, China orders 300 Airbuses.

LOL. What a maroon.

I always kinda liked Europe better than the US. More power to them.

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 8: Bezos Takes Over the World

Meanwhile, while Red Don and the Chinese president continue to try to work out a trade deal, China orders 300 Airbuses.

This is why whatever shortcut you're taking might seem like a great way to cut costs, ultimately, doing things the right way is always cheaper in the long run.

Well done FAA and Boeing. You killed 300 people and less importantly cost us all money. **** you.

[rufus]

Re: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 8: Bezos Takes Over the World

LOL. What a maroon.

I always kinda liked Europe better than the US. More power to them.

I don't fly much at all, but the last time I flew cross country to visit my sister, years ago, when Boeing was having issues with another of their planes involved in frequent crashes, I made sure the airline I was flying used the Airbus.

The actual flying part isn't bad. Sorta like taking the bus. it's the takeoffs and landings I could do without.

[LynahFan]

Re: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 8: Bezos Takes Over the World

The irony being that Airbus generally relies more on automation/software than Boeing does. Maybe that's why Boeing isn't as good at it....

I saw an industry-insider cartoon years ago depicting the latest Airbus cockpit, with just one button labeled "Fly" and another labeled "Land."