Originally Posted by
DaveReidUK
I believe all -300ERs have some degree of tailstrike protection embedded in the flight control software. Later production aircraft have enhanced protection, which enabled them to be built without the tailskid, resulting in significant weight savings when all the extra structure needed for it was eliminated.
Earlier aircraft can have the software upgrade and the tailskid removed, though the weight savings are obviously less. I think a similar SB is also available for non-ER -300s.
Interesting to have another 'protection' system, a la MCAS, that obviously limits the pilot's inputs. Boeing, unlike Airbus, used to have a philosophy that the pilot should be able to bend the airplane. Clearly that is no longer the case.