Missing calibration parameters on 3 engines, detected after getting airborne
Exclusive: A400M probe focuses on impact of accidental data wipe | Reuters
(..) the key scenario being examined is that the data -- known as "torque calibration parameters" -- was accidentally wiped on three engines as the engine software was being installed at Airbus facilities. (..) European NATO buyers have now been instructed not to use the Airbus computer system that was used to conduct the software installation on the A400M, people familiar with the order said. (..) the first warning pilots would receive of the engine data problem would be when the plane was 400 feet (120 meters) in the air, according to a safety document seen by Reuters.
I can't understand why a very possible failure mode (lack or erasure of parameters) is not self-detected (e.g. by a checksum/hash mechanism), and reported in pre-flight checks. Note: I'm an engineer designing security-critical software (though no safety-critical as in aviation).
Last edited by fgrieu; 10th Jun 2015 at 05:37.