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0 pointshencq7y ago0 comments

As you say, most of the speculation seems to focus on MCAS in combination with faulty sensor data. While, as a layman, pilots being unfamiliar with MCAS seems like a reasonable explanation, doesn't this theory still require 2 planes in 6 months to have faulty AOA sensor data? That seems unusually high to me as well. I haven't really seen any comments on that.

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rootusrootus7y ago

It does not seem too surprising to me. Sensors fail all the time on planes. The AOA sensor seems like a particularly good candidate for failure given the design.

I think most people don't realize just how much stuff can be broken on an airliner and it still deemed safe to fly. And it happens all the time.

bronson7y ago

I think you'll be surprised to see how long a typical MMEL is: http://fsims.faa.gov/wdocs/mmel/b-737%20r55a.pdf

Sure, airliners might fly all the time with a missing seat number or a broken overhead bin. They're big, complex machines. But if you're implying that it's routine to fly with broken sensors, then no. That's not true.

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