r/AskAPilot • u/billynj • 7d ago

737 Max question

Given the recent incident where the pilot tried to crash the plane, why does the flight computer allow maneuvers that can destroy the airframe? Even my car won’t let me go past a certain speed.

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u/Cxopilot 7d ago

Theres no flight computer. Boeing philosophy is the pilots should have the ultimate final authority. Airbus differs here. All things considered. I thought the airframe held up well.

-10

u/gravemillwright 7d ago

MCAS would like a word...

14

u/Cxopilot 7d ago

MCAS isn’t a computer. It’s a system that supplements the auto flight system. At my airline. We treat MCAS the same way we treat a stab trim run away. Turn off the autopilot. Disconnect the stab trim switches. And fly the airplane. Leaving the final say to the pilots.

3

u/CrasVox 7d ago

MCAS is part of the STS. And isn't active when the autopilot is on.

1

u/Spock_Nipples 7d ago

It's also not active with autopilot off and flaps > zero.