Originally Posted by
OldnGrounded
I don't understand what point you're trying to make here, Edmund. That Forkner's messages should be disregarded because he wasn't a test pilot? That the test pilots must have understood the implications of MCAS and didn't pull the emergency brake, so that means . . . what?
Certainly the test pilots are crucial witnesses, but neither the chief nor anyone else is "the" crucial witness. This mess is way too complex.
Please spell it out for us.
We have it on record the the test pilots reported the stick gradient issue and recommended an aerodynamic solution, but were overruled. They were then in the loop on every change and evolution in MCAS as MCAS was a SOLUTION to flight behavior issues. In their role as testers they certainly considered stab trim failure modes. These guys know exactly what the state of play and knowledge was within Boeing at the time of certification. This they are ideal witnesses.
Also, my intuition is they knew things werent quite right eg, stab trim failure could easily become terminal because of the great authority of the stabiliser, and with one quiet word to their FAA contacts over an evening drink, they could have prevented this fiasco.
Edmund