Originally Posted by
Davey Clark
Do airlines ever do power systems tests on aircraft when they are in flight with fare-paying passengers onboard????? - I think not!!!
Fair point, but when exactly is the exact moment when the whole centre/facility doesn't have something airborne... The modern world makes these things more concerning; before 'consolidation' a failure in one unit was a small but significant event, now it's a catsorophy as it is so wide spread.
As for the electronic strips thing, upon failure here we have dumped the Flight plan data base onto A4 paper, distributed relevent copies to each and every console and had our own A4 "strips"... This of course assumes the power to the printers/photo copiers and flight plan box is working.
I think the more that software gets a hold in our world, every 'upgrade' is considered a very hi risk; cause you never really know what the end result will be until it's switched back on.