Originally Posted by
Interflug
As far as I understand logic, a 3rd AoA would have allowed the system to run a software algorithm that votes an erroneous AoA sensor input out against the other two. That would have solved EVERYTHING in those two crashes, no?
It would have prevented MCAS from activating in the first place. 346 people would still live. Two airplanes would still fly. And all the other 737 MAX would not have been grounded.
How can you come to the conclusion that it wouldn't have solved anything?
We know by now why Boeing did use only one sensor input: to save money, and keeping the reckless promise, that crews would need no expensive training to fly the plane except minutes with some slideshow on the iPad. In order to do so, they had to downgrade the risk as in case of malfunction not potentially catastrophic, and apparently they did so intentionally, and the FAA was partner in crime.
A third AOA would only have worked if the Boeing 737 MAX had new flight control computers like other models (including Airbus). That was never going to happen, due to the huge cost, certification and training issues. I never implied that 3 AOA sensors have no function, but unless the system architecture can process and vote on them, the third one has no purpose.