Originally Posted by
Euclideanplane
The reason for MCAS was stated by a previous poster. It is needed for purpose of certification. I reproduce the entire paragraph § 25.173, since I have not seen it in full in the thread.
AIRWORTHINESS STANDARDS: TRANSPORT CATEGORY AIRPLANES
§ 25.173 Static longitudinal stability.
Under the conditions specified in § 25.175, the characteristics of the elevator control forces (including friction) must be as follows:
(a) A pull must be required to obtain and maintain speeds below the specified trim speed, and a push must be required to obtain and maintain speeds above the specified trim speed. This must be shown at any speed that can be obtained except speeds higher than the landing gear or wing flap operating limit speeds or V FC /M FC, whichever is appropriate, or lower than the minimum speed for steady unstalled flight.
(b) The airspeed must return to within 10 percent of the original trim speed for the climb, approach, and landing conditions specified in § 25.175 (a), (c), and (d), and must return to within 7.5 percent of the original trim speed for the cruising condition specified in § 25.175(b), when the control force is slowly released from any speed within the range specified in paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) The average gradient of the stable slope of the stick force versus speed curve may not be less than 1 pound for each 6 knots.
(d) Within the free return speed range specified in paragraph (b) of this section, it is permissible for the airplane, without control forces, to stabilize on speeds above or below the desired trim speeds if exceptional attention on the part of the pilot is not required to return to and maintain the desired trim speed and altitude.
The item that describes the specific details is § 25.175 Demonstration of static longitudinal stability.
It also allowed Boeing to claim that all that was need to transition to the Max was a short video presentation.
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/22/u...ntl/index.html