Originally Posted by
Lookleft
What is ironic ,if the seat scenario is correct, is that when Boeing designed the 777 and the 787 they were insistent on the control yoke being of traditional design even though the aircraft was FBW. So now there is a possible situation where that very same control column which was supposed to make pilots feel like real pilots, has metaphorically kicked the Captain in the goolies. If they had been fitted with side-sticks ( a US response to the benefits of FBW) and a fold out table then all those passengers would have arrived safely in Chile. Instead a dodgy seat and a refusal to move with the technology has possibly led to this incident. And before the mob with their pitchforks start shouting "What about the Voyager, what about the Voyager?" that was a pilot's lack of camera SA that caused that, not some cheap and nasty seat switches.
Kind of what Boeing is known for, persisting with old tech to keep things common, I mean look at the 737.