Qantas computer glitch?

[doggie015]

http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24469386-15317,00.html

If Qantas are running something based on windows vista that would not surprise me at all :rofl:

P.S. are qantas' safety standards really dropping?

 

[tblaxland]

http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24469386-15317,00.html

If Qantas are running something based on windows vista that would not surprise me at all :rofl:

P.S. are qantas' safety standards really dropping?

I don't think that their standards are dropping but they have had a few incidents lately which does make you wonder about compliance with those standards.

The manoeuvring for compo begins:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/09/2385921.htm?section=justin

EDIT: A good reason to keep your selt belt on as much as possible. I am constantly amazed at how many people unbuckle their seatbelts when the seatbelt indicator goes off - just for the heck of it. It isn't really that uncomfortable to sit with a lap belt on is it?

 

[MajorTom]

Ah, finally, my chance to ask two questions about Qantas:

1. "Con-tas" or "Kwan-tas?"
2. Do they still have a perfect safety record (no fatalities)? I dimly recall hearing recently that this statistic might have changed, but perhaps you guys have these facts at your fingertips...

MT

 

[willy88]

OH $#@&!!!!!!!!

 

[tl8]

Ah, finally, my chance to ask two questions about Qantas:

1. "Con-tas" or "Kwan-tas?"
2. Do they still have a perfect safety record (no fatalities)? I dimly recall hearing recently that this statistic might have changed, but perhaps you guys have these facts at your fingertips...

MT

1. Kwan-tas
2. YES!! No fatalities, Unless there was another crash I haven't heard of.

Willy88:

LOL at the picture.

Also love the sig, that is exactly how I work

 

[MajorTom]

1. Kwan-tas
2. YES!! No fatalities, Unless there was another crash I haven't heard of.

Willy88:

LOL at the picture.

Also love the sig, that is exactly how I work

Thanks tl8! Rain Man is still correct, then.

Ditto on the hilarious picture, Willy88.

 

[movieman]

P.S. are qantas' safety standards really dropping?

Hasn't 'sudden dropping out of the sky' syndrome been a persistent problem for Airbus since they started fly-by-wire? I seem to remember several of them doing precisely that in the 90s.

 

[unussapiens]

If Qantas are running something based on windows vista that would not surprise me at all :rofl:

I know the in flight entertainment systems were running either XP or 2000 in early 2007, as I managed to crash the it and then had to wait for it to reboot. I think I have a photo of it somewhere, I'll post it if I find it.

 

[simonpro]

63 People have been killed on Qantas flights to-date, none in the last 40 years though.

 

[tl8]

Closer to 57 years, http://www.planecrashinfo.com/Airline/AL Q-R.htm

 

[James.Denholm]

You know what I think? No? Well, bad luck, because I'm immensely proud of my nation's main airline and you'll listen even if I have to force you!

I think that the press is just looking at them and pointing out every mistake they made because of that oxygen-tank-rupture-thing they had a couple of months ago. I'm not saying that the normally wouldn't report a plane dropping out of the sky, but the they are perpetrating it over here as if they've had a lot of problems over the past few months. They usually then say something like the most major was the fore-mentioned tank rupture. And yet, I haven't seen a list of the other problems that they've had, which I am absolutely sure are much more menial and which, if were isolated, would not be reported by the media at all.

Long story short, IMO, they've only had two problems in the past few months. And I have faith in them that they are working hard to fix them, and prevent them from happening again.

 

[n122vu]

Apparently they are trying to shift blame elsewhere, my guess is so they can ease passengers' fears and quell the speculation about the onboard systems (in other words, not lose revenue from ticket sales)...

(Here we go again with the BS about wireless devices interfering with aircraft systems)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10536660

willy88 - love the pic, man. Was thinking the same thing :rofl:

-or-

What if they were actually still running Win98SE?

(!)Elevator_Control.exe has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.

 

[simonpro]

James.Denholm, they've also had 2 (iirc) cases of undercarriage problems and numerous inflight systems failures.
From the talk I've heard from pilots there is a fair bit of concern over Qantas' maintenance approach, I've heard they've cut a number of corners to save some money. All perfectly legal, but given a choice I'd rather fly with a different carrier.

 

[to be]

It sounds to me like any problem here would be airbus' fault, not Qantas. Given a choice, it doesn't appreciably matter which airline you choose, so long as it is a '1st world' type and not Air Zimbabwe. Additionally, wireless devices do interfere with navigation equipment quite drastically, if the nav radios aren't shielded. However, all of the equipment should is shielded, so it won't do anything. From what I understand the main reason that wireless devices are not allowed is that it would cost a fortune to check the shielding on every piece of equipment on every airliner.

 

[simonpro]

Given a choice, it doesn't appreciably matter which airline you choose, so long as it is a '1st world' type and not Air Zimbabwe.

When it comes to safety? No. When it comes to comfort and enjoyment of flight it makes a huge difference.
However, safety is important, and IMO some of Qantas' meaintenance dealings are appreciably far from 1st world.

 

[tl8]

When it comes to safety? No. When it comes to comfort and enjoyment of flight it makes a huge difference.
However, safety is important, and IMO some of Qantas' meaintenance dealings are appreciably far from 1st world.

May I see your sources?

The biggest problem for QANTAS maintenance over the past few years has been the removal of Australian jobs as the work gets sent to London and Singapore.
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2006/s1600557.htm
http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/qantas-maintenance-may-stay-if-133/2006/02/21/1140284067399.html

 

[Pilot7893]

Will wireless devices interfere with an airplanes controls? No. Why? Because they are connected via wires to the rudder pedals/throttle/control yoke

 

[tl8]

Will wireless devices interfere with an airplanes controls? No. Why? Because they are connected via wires to the rudder pedals/throttle/control yoke

That is correct on most older aircraft. However newer aircraft are fly-by-wire ie they are flown by a computer and controlled using a joystick, almost exactly (in operation) like a normal PC joystick. Also there is the nav equipment that all planes have.

 

[tblaxland]

May I see your sources?

From last month:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/02/2352556.htm

An audit by CASA has found the airline's maintenance procedures are not up to its own standards, but stressed that the airline is safe.

 

[simonpro]

May I see your sources?

The biggest problem for QANTAS maintenance over the past few years has been the removal of Australian jobs as the work gets sent to London and Singapore.
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2006/s1600557.htm

My sources are the pilots who fly the things (as I said earlier). They might not write it down or publish it online (although I'm sure there's discussions about it on the various qantas forums) but I trust their opinion.