[SystemSafety] Autopilot interface?

[SPRIGGS, John J]

This is where the BBC got it from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5bc73322ed915d0b0349a662/DHC-8-402_Dash_8_G-ECOE_11-18.pdf

From: systemsafety [mailto:systemsafety-bounces at lists.techfak.uni-bielefeld.de] On Behalf Of Michael J. Pont
Sent: 08 November 2018 12:26
To: 'The System Safety List'
Subject: [SystemSafety] Autopilot interface?

A report on the BBC website of a flight incident earlier this year:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46137445<https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46137445>

According to the BBC:

--- BEGIN QUOTE ---

The plane climbed to 1,500ft, but then pitched and "descended rapidly" because autopilot was set with a target altitude of 0ft.

Staff reported that the plane "had become visual with the ground", and the report said the aircraft had reached a maximum rate of descent of 4,300ft/min.

--- END QUOTE ---

I've never had responsibility for the design of an autopilot interface, but I'd have thought that you'd probably want to make it difficult to set a target height of 0 ft under these conditions?

Michael.

Michael J. Pont
SafeTTy Systems Ltd.





_______________________________________________
The System Safety Mailing List
systemsafety at TechFak.Uni-Bielefeld.DE<mailto:systemsafety at TechFak.Uni-Bielefeld.DE>
Manage your subscription: https://lists.techfak.uni-bielefeld.de/mailman/listinfo/systemsafety<https://lists.techfak.uni-bielefeld.de/mailman/listinfo/systemsafety>

***************************************************************************
If you are not the intended recipient, please notify our Help Desk at Email information.solutions at nats.co.uk
immediately. You should not copy or use this email or attachment(s) for any purpose nor disclose
their contents to any other person.

NATS computer systems may be monitored and communications carried on them recorded, to 
secure the effective operation of the system.

Please note that neither NATS nor the sender accepts any responsibility for viruses or any losses
caused as a result of viruses and it is your responsibility to scan or otherwise check this email
and any attachments.

NATS means NATS (En Route) plc (company number: 4129273), NATS (Services) Ltd 
(company number 4129270), NATSNAV Ltd (company number: 4164590) 
or NATS Ltd (company number 3155567) or NATS Holdings Ltd (company number 4138218). 
All companies are registered in England and their registered office is at 4000 Parkway, 
Whiteley, Fareham, Hampshire, PO15 7FL.

***************************************************************************
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.techfak.uni-bielefeld.de/mailman/private/systemsafety/attachments/20181108/5648a726/attachment.html>