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The Shocking Reality: Developers Behind Boeing 737 Max’s Software Issues
Medium ^ | 21 Aug, 2023 | Vishnu Ravi

Posted on 01/02/2025 6:49:52 AM PST by MtnClimber

Unveiling the Truth: Boeing’s 737 Max Software Development Unraveled

In the realm of aviation technology, the Boeing 737 Max series has remained a topic of intense scrutiny and debate. Recent revelations have shed light on a pivotal aspect of its development, exposing a web of intricate details that could reshape our perception of the entire saga.

Boeing’s Strategic Outsourcing Approach

Startling reports have surfaced, divulging an unconventional strategy employed by Boeing during the development and testing phase of the 737 Max’s software. This strategy involved outsourcing crucial responsibilities to a pool of temporary workers and fresh college graduates. These individuals found themselves under the employment or contract of esteemed Indian technology firms, namely HCL Technologies and Cyient Ltd.

The Quest for Efficiency and Its Consequences

Intriguingly, the workforce engaged by Boeing for this pivotal task was comprised of low-paid professionals. This unconventional move, while seemingly aimed at enhancing efficiency and cutting costs, ultimately raised serious concerns within the industry. Veteran engineers who have had the privilege of observing this process firsthand have pointed out alarming irregularities in the code’s execution.

The Shadows of Imperfection

These seasoned engineers, with their wealth of experience, did not mince words when it came to assessing the work undertaken by the outsourced engineers. They assertively state that the code, which forms the backbone of the 737 Max’s software, was marred by inadequacies and inaccuracies. Their unanimous sentiment was that the code had not been meticulously crafted and executed in the manner it deserved.

Anatomy of the Flawed Software

While it’s essential to cast a discerning eye on the role played by the outsourced workforce, it’s equally imperative to understand the broader context of the software’s malfunction. The glitch-ridden software, which has become synonymous with the ill-fated 737 Max series, can be traced back to a fundamental design flaw embedded in the plane’s Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS).

The Crucial Link: MCAS in Focus

MCAS, heralded as a pioneering advancement in aviation safety, was meticulously designed to avert potential stalls during flights. However, a single point of vulnerability within its architecture led to catastrophic consequences. MCAS was intrinsically engineered to depend on data sourced from a solitary sensor. This inherent design choice, while meant to streamline operations, inadvertently exposed the system to erroneous readings.

A Chain Reaction of Devastation

The vulnerability stemming from the sole reliance on one sensor spawned a chain reaction of events that would go on to haunt the 737 Max series. The discrepancies in sensor readings had the potential to trigger the MCAS into action, causing it to erroneously force the aircraft’s nose downward. This unsettling behavior played a pivotal role in the tragic sequence of events that culminated in two fatal crashes, shaking the very foundation of Boeing’s credibility.

Lessons Learned and the Path Forward

In hindsight, the calamitous outcomes attributed to the 737 Max’s software issues underscore the dire consequences of compromise in aerospace engineering. This sobering saga serves as a testament to the indispensable nature of precision and rigor in such critical endeavors. It compels the industry, regulators, and stakeholders alike to reevaluate their approach to safety, innovation, and quality assurance.

Conclusion: Navigating Turbulent Skies

The saga of Boeing’s 737 Max software development illuminates the intricate interplay between innovation, oversight, and accountability. The outsourcing strategy, though well-intentioned, cast a spotlight on the importance of striking a delicate balance between efficiency and excellence. As the aviation industry charts its course into the future, the lessons gleaned from this tumultuous chapter will undoubtedly serve as a compass, guiding the way towards safer skies for all.

In conclusion, the revelation of Boeing’s choice to outsource critical software development tasks to a contingent of low-paid workers and recent graduates opens a window into the complex world of aerospace engineering. The resultant issues that plagued the 737 Max’s software underscore the significance of maintaining an unwavering commitment to quality and precision in such a high-stakes domain. This introspection must steer the aviation industry toward a future that prioritizes not only innovation but also the unfaltering assurance of safety and reliability.


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: boeing; boeingmax; h1b; outsourcing; wokeified; wokeism; wokeprogrammers
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To: cymbeline
Perhaps Boeing should have made dual sensors mandatory.

They are blaming the Indian software serfs for writing bad code but I see two flaws:

1) proper testing which includes failure cases (and a failed sensor input would be one such obvious case, especially if it's not redundant - and that's a lot easier to test actually so no excuses) should have uncovered the flaws, who did the testing? This sort of testing should be mandatory for any safety related components of the system so that's a Boeing fail at their core engineering processes, not the Indian serfs. And clearly it didn't happen.

2) cost cutting on a safety critical sensor to remove redundancy should have never been allowed, once again the Boeing engineers allowed this, not their Indian serfs.

Basically my read on this: Their engineering oversight is bad, they have no functioning peer review process and their testing is inadequate. They engaged in terrible safety processes because they put money ahead of safety and therefore i do not trust them.

21 posted on 01/02/2025 7:32:29 AM PST by pepsi_junkie ("We want no Gestapo or Secret Police. F. B. I. is tending in that direction." - Harry S Truman)
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To: MtnClimber

The Shocking Reality begins and ends with the blunt fact that Boeing 737 MAX jets in the USA, Europe, Japan, the Persian Gulf, and Can-Aus-NZ, had 60,000 flights, without one incident report, regarding the same software that allegedly caused four Muslim pilots to crash 737 MAX planes in Ethiopia and Indonesia.


22 posted on 01/02/2025 7:33:55 AM PST by zeestephen (Trump Landslide? Kamala lost Wisc, Mich, and Penn, by 230,000 votes.)
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To: MtnClimber

Go woke, go broke................


23 posted on 01/02/2025 7:35:51 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: PeterPrinciple

I have more followers than that and I don’t even post on ‘X’ a lot!..............As of right now:
968 Followers...............


24 posted on 01/02/2025 7:37:17 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: MtnClimber

Yes.
Many people can create some software, which would work “usually”.
In my experience, beginners do not consider all “what ifs” and just shoot something, “well enough”.

It take highly paid, well experienced engineers to make it work ALL the time!


25 posted on 01/02/2025 7:38:56 AM PST by AZJeep
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To: pepsi_junkie

I would put money down that the management that made decisions with respect to this issue moved on to other roles before the shtf.


26 posted on 01/02/2025 7:39:10 AM PST by Tench_Coxe (The woke were surprised by the reaction to the Bud Light fiasco. May there be many more surprises)
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To: flamberge

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XXtqX01PzU


27 posted on 01/02/2025 7:40:44 AM PST by RckyRaCoCo (Time to throw them out of the Temple...again)
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To: cymbeline
It shouldn’t matter if the Indians initially programmed crap because testing including in-flight testing would eliminate the crap.

That depends on two things. First, was the testing performed by the same sort of people? (Probably) Second, Mother Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.

28 posted on 01/02/2025 7:42:10 AM PST by GingisK
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To: Skywise
Even a seasoned team of software engineers would’ve missed that.

Experienced software engineers would have asked about redundant inputs and how to handle data out of its expected range. For example, if your pitot tube reported zero airspeed, is that because you've stalled or because it failed?

29 posted on 01/02/2025 7:44:32 AM PST by KarlInOhio (Now unburdened by the Biden/Harris administration that has been.)
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To: MtnClimber

The shoddy work of Musk’s H1-Bers on display.

They need to return to having qualified pilots control airliner flight.


30 posted on 01/02/2025 7:49:15 AM PST by citizen (Political incrementalism is like compound interest for liberals - every little bit adds up.)
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To: Da Coyote
Funny, my military flight training did a superb job of teaching us how to recognize and recover from stalls.

Exactly. Why didn't they just turn the damn system off and fly the airplane "manually"?

I can tell you this though: a dirty Angle of Attack probe could drive the F-4's altimeters to crazy readings - but obviously non-sensical.

31 posted on 01/02/2025 7:49:40 AM PST by libertylover (Our biggest problem, by far, is that almost all of big media is AGENDA-DRIVEN, not-truth driven.)
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To: Skywise

“trying to blame the 737 Max failures on “muh H1B software people” “

I’m SHOCKED that H1B Visa is so far down at #15. I thought it would be #1. lol. (is still using lol tre gauche?)


32 posted on 01/02/2025 7:49:45 AM PST by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts )
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To: MtnClimber

Yep.


33 posted on 01/02/2025 7:50:08 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Before you post a nasty, stop and think: "Would that person slap me if I said it in person?" )
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To: Skywise

Actually, it was a design AND software failure, and a management failure, too.

In the days before DEI and H1B and MBA CEOs, one of the critical steps would be to identify and address Al the “what ifs” that might occur.

Among them in this case would have been what if a single sensor failed; what if a runaway pitch trim occurred at critical flight phases; what if we designed a single step pilot override/disconnect switch for unforeseen autopilot failures; what if the plane is being flown by poorly trained pilots who can’t handle a complex multi-step corrective procedure?

That was the design approach in the past, even with more primitive technologies, like the Apollo program or the B-707 design.

A bad example was the Challenger crash, where a what if had already been identified (a seal that shrank in old weather) but management ignored it and launched anyway. (There’s not much that you can design to overcome bad management.)


34 posted on 01/02/2025 7:51:41 AM PST by oldbill
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To: MtnClimber

Regardless of the software issues, the problem goes back to management who decided it was more expedient and cheaper to install much larger engines then the original airframe had been designed to accommodate.


35 posted on 01/02/2025 7:52:39 AM PST by Mouton (A 150MT hit may not solve our problems now but is a good start. )
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To: Telepathic Intruder

Are they lower paid ‘cause they are H1B? That is one of the purposes of H1B; to suppress wages and keep US citizens out.


36 posted on 01/02/2025 7:59:52 AM PST by bobbo666
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To: MtnClimber

The REAL reason for outsourcing the MCAST software was to keep it secret. They didn’t even inform the PILOTS who were flying the MAX that this system was even on their plane!

The whole idea was to make the new MAX fly EXACTLY like the old 737 (FAA rule) so they didn’t have to pay for flight simulator training on the MAX.

This was so MAX pilots could step right in the cockpit from their 737 and fly the MAX. (with some minor update training)

The MCAST system was not even MENTIONED in the manual.

It was “all about the Benjamins”. To not have to Pay for and making time for flight simulator training. PERIOD!


37 posted on 01/02/2025 8:02:47 AM PST by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts )
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To: MtnClimber

Both stall warning sensors to feed the MCAS system was an option. By default only one provided input.


38 posted on 01/02/2025 8:03:02 AM PST by Java4Jay (The evils of government are directly proportional to the tolerance of the people. )
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To: flamberge
Talented, experienced software engineers are becoming a dying breed.
They are no longer generally appreciated, and are being left to die, unemployed.

Damn geeks - who needs, ‘em, eh?

Think about this the next time you board a plane, or a train or put
yourself at risk in countless other ways in our so-called ‘advanced’ society.

39 posted on 01/02/2025 8:04:32 AM PST by GaltAdonis ( )
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To: libertylover

There is no off for MCAS.


40 posted on 01/02/2025 8:10:15 AM PST by CodeToad (Rule #1: The elites want you dead.)
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