Karl Katzke

Software problems are the #1 thing that will keep an Airbus A380 on the ground. Yes, airplanes are complicated things … but at the same time, not much is required to keep most of them in the air.

The thing that speaks volumes to me about these problems are a few key quotes.

Clark says that the problem with the nuisance warnings has been their diverse nature, but “the common thread” is the software. He says Airbus executive vice-president programmes Tom Williams and his team “have sat in my office many times and said they can’t identify trends, which is the worst possible thing”.

Clark blames the software’s design. “There was a philosophy of utopia – I suspect that Airbus was blessed with some boffins who said ‘we’ve got to make this absolutely perfect – no flexibility’. The slightest surge causes one [sensor] to trip and then six more as they’re all linked,” he says.

Anyone willing to take guesses about the type of architecture and software developers at Airbus?