Originally Posted by
Ignition Override
How often is a rudder designed whereby a pilot pushes on the pedal, but after a certain distance of pedal travel, a disproportiate angle is commanded by the rudder actuator? This has been alleged for the A-300/310.
Interflug is gone, and would that company and Air France keep records maintenance inspections after the 'alleged' incidents?
Did Fedex aircraft suffer UNexplained rudder problems on any A-310/300s?
The unusual rudder actuation of the A300 series is not alleged, IO. It is a demonstrated fact. And to be fair, the 737 Classic series rudder incidents indicated something was clearly wrong with the PCH units. There is more to both stories than is generally known.
Probably hasn't been a lawsuit involving a product defect in recent times where some form of legal subterfuge is not being skillfully applied to free the manufacturer from liability. Sad Status Quo.
Now, allow us move on to the newest generation of aircraft:
The good news:
A physical defect in a valve or other device can 99% of the time be expertly reproduced or reasonably proven forensically to exist - no contest here.
The not so good news:
A software bug can remain well-hidden due to the numerous lines of often complex code that is best understood only by the original programmers. Then there is the programmer's intended interaction with the not-so-finite real world which becomes practically an ethereal matter. The resulting trail from said defect may only be visible to a select few, if there is any trail left at all.
The more we digitise, the more need there is to audit the process and results - especially considering the current state of corporate honesty.
This business of not owning up to one's mistakes (both personal and corporate) is becoming very tiresome.
Honesty and integrity should always trump liability, but that is now but an idealist's dream.
The trust-factor, however, remains huge.