[Yo-Yo]

Are the backup analog instruments in the A320 really unlit? Or wass the instrument lighting circuit part of the affected power bus?

[Tennessee_Bob]

Hi - tech support? We're at 32,000 feet, and descending, we think....

[Mr. Jazzy]

Well, could have been worse.

Instead of the screens going dark, they could have all gotten the "Blue Screen Of Death".


Talk about crashes!

[Onelifetogive]

A good indication that we should go long on Boeing???

[tophat9000]

Rebooting Your Airbus (After All The Screens Go Dark)

Man that could really be the "BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH"

[xrp]

Airbus, Europe's biggest aircraft manufacturer, is asking all the airlines which use its A330 passenger jet to check their planes' fuel lines. The call comes a week after a Canadian Airbus pilot was forced to fly his plane for more than 100 miles without power before making a forced landing in the Azores.

[Rummyfan]

Damn Windows!

But seriously, what happens when this occurs on final approach? With poor visibility?

[Little Ray]

Not to self: If I get in to aircraft instrumentation and information systesms - use Linux or Unix.

[MediaMole]

Thank you for calling Airbus technical support. If your aircraft is plummeting to earth, press 1. If you need a replacement tail, press 2.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Are the backup analog instruments in the A320 really unlit?

No biggie. That's why pilots carry flashlights.

While flying our private airplane one night, we had a generator failure. Since the engine uses a magneto, it ran just fine, but we had to shut down all the electrical and use a hand radio to communicate.

Since I was flying, I had to hold the flashlight in my mouth to see the instruments.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Well, the Airbus entertainment system uses Linux...I would hope the avionics displays are controlled by a proprietary (Honeywell?) O/S and not a certain commercial O/S which shall remain nameless... ;)

[knews_hound]

Thank you for calling Tech Support, all agents are busy with other customers, your call will be answered in the order it was recieved.

Press One if you are decending at an alarming rate.

Press Two if the screams of terror from the passengers are getting on your nerves.

Press 3 if you are upside down.

Your call may be monitored for Quality Purposes.

Cheers,

knewshound

[wjcsux]

If it isn't a Boeing, I'm not going!

[Names Ash Housewares]

With handheld GPS technology advancing fast and even gyroless portable attitude indicators, Seems a backup system totally independant of aircraft power for critical flight information would be easy to install or have on the ready. I bet many airline types probably carry handhelds anyways.

[MineralMan]

Airbus Technical Support: Hello there. I am being your technical support helper.

Cockpit: All our instruments went black. We don't have any of our computer screens.

Airbus Technical Support: I am not understanding you. Are you currently flying in your airbus?

Cockpit: Yes. We are approximately 500 miles west of London, and we have no instruments. Heavy weather here. We need assistance in restarting our instruments.

Airbus Technical Support: OK, I will be helping you then. Please be unplugging your instruments from the mains. Then replacing the mains plug firmly. After, then switching the instruments to on position.

Cockpit: Mains? What are you talking about. There are no mains in this aircraft! You need to help us. We do not know our current altitude or bearings.

Airbus Technical Support: Then, you are having problems with bearings on your airbus? I am not being the support person for bearings. I will transfer you...please be waiting now.

[theDentist]

"This is tech support. As you wait for an available representative, please fully shut down your Airbus and reboot as you would at the beginning of your flight. We will be with you in a moment.... Your call is important to us............This is tech support. As you wait for an available representative, please fully shut down your Airbus and reboot as you would at the beginning of your flight. We will be with you in a moment.... Your call is important to us.... "

[Pukin Dog]

A nice reminder of why pilots are paid all that money.

[Petronski]

[GoldCountryRedneck]

Aviation -ping- list .... for those of us who still kinda like old-fashion "steam gauges" ...

[Fractal Trader]

aerospace ping

[Jim Noble]

Give me Boeing or I ain't going.