36 lines
3.9 KiB
Markdown
36 lines
3.9 KiB
Markdown
# Airplane takes off a metric ton heavier than expected after computer error weighs adults as children
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- **期号**: SRE Weekly Issue #266（2021-04-18）
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- **作者**: —
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- **链接**: https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/9/22375136/airplane-flight-takes-off-heavier-than-expected-miss-ms-children
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## 简介
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This one was brought to my attention by Dr. Richard Cook, who also pointed me to the AAIB incident report.
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Dr. Cook went on to share these insights with me, which I’ve copied here with permission:
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> Note:the subtle interactions allowed the manual correction to be lost during the interval between recognizing the software problem and having the corrected software functionally ‘catch’ the Ms/Miss title mixup;the incident is attributed to “a simple flaw in the programming of the IT system” rather than failure of the workarounds that were put in place after the problem was recognized;the report is careful to demonstrate that the flaws in the system made only a slight difference to the flight parameters;the report does not describe any IT process changes whatsoever!The report has the effect of making the incident appear to be an unfortunate series of occurrences rather than being emblematic of the way that these sorts of processes are vulnerable.
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## 正文
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A flight from the UK to Spain took off with more than a metric ton of unexpected weight after a software error classified female passengers using the title “Miss” as children. This led to the flight’s load sheet estimating the weight of 38 female passengers as 38 kg or 77 pounds each, the standard weight for children, instead of 69 kg or 152 pounds, the standard weight used for female adults.
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# Airplane takes off a metric ton heavier than expected after computer error weighs adults as children
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Regulators describe the error as a “serious incident”
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The error was classified as a “[serious incident](https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/aaib-investigation-to-boeing-737-8k5-g-tawg-21-july-2020)” by the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) but did not affect the flight’s safety. Despite a discrepancy of 1,244 kg (2,743 pounds) between the expected and actual mass of the aircraft, the thrust used in takeoff by the pilot was only “marginally less” than what was required. “This meant the safe operation of the aircraft was not compromised,” concluded the AAIB.
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“This meant the safe operation of the aircraft was not compromised”
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The error was introduced to the software after the flight operator suspended operations for several months due to COVID-19 restrictions. During this time, it upgraded its IT systems, but in the country where the software was programmed, the honorific “Miss” is used for children while “Ms” is used for female adults. The error affected two more flights from the same operator that same day, July 21, 2020, before it was corrected.
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According to a report by the [*Press Association*](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/09/tui-plane-serious-incident-every-miss-on-board-child-weight-birmingham-majorca?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other), the flight was operated by Anglo-German company Tui. In statement the company said: “The health and safety of our customers and crew is always our primary concern. Following this isolated incident, we corrected a fault identified in our IT system. As stated in the report, the safe operation of the flight was not compromised.”
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