In Serious Incident, Software Glitch Miscalculates the Weight of Three UK Flights (theguardian.com)
- Reference: 0144877488
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/21/04/10/1819227/in-serious-incident-software-glitch-miscalculates-the-weight-of-three-uk-flights
- Source link: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/09/tui-plane-serious-incident-every-miss-on-board-child-weight-birmingham-majorca
> An update to the airline's reservation system while its planes were grounded due to the coronavirus pandemic led to 38 passengers on the flight being allocated a child's "standard weight" of 35kg [77 pounds] as opposed to the adult figure of 69kg [152 pounds]. This caused the load sheet — produced for the captain to calculate what inputs are needed for take-off — to [1]state that the Boeing 737 was more than 1,200kg lighter [2,645 pounds] than it actually was .
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> Investigators described the glitch as "a simple flaw" in an IT system. It was programmed in an unnamed foreign country where the title "Miss" is used for a child and "Ms" for an adult female.
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> Despite the issue, the thrust used for the departure from Birmingham on 21 July 2020 was only "marginally less" than it should have been, and the "safe operation of the aircraft was not compromised", the AAIB said.
They're still classifying it as a "serious incident" — and also note that because of the same software glitch, two more UK flights also took off on the same day with inaccurate load sheets.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/09/tui-plane-serious-incident-every-miss-on-board-child-weight-birmingham-majorca
Re: (Score:1)
Referring to someone in a gender-neutral manner when they have not told you they consider themselves as such is still misgendering.
152lbs (Score:3)
An adult that weighs 152lbs? Oh they aren’t talking about Americans. Carry on.
Re: (Score:1)
We could get you down to 152 grams if you'd just accept the enema tube already.
WTF? (Score:2)
Why would they tie a life-critical feature to name parsing?
To paraphrase Steve Ballmer (Score:2)
Requirements! Requirements! Requirements!
Funny.. (Score:2)
This is just funny, making such a big mistake on domething simple as Miss/Ms, how did that even get past functional design, then technical design, development and testing without anyone noticing the problem. Also, don't planes have pressure sensors in the landinggear, so it would automatically know how much weight the whole plane is and with that being able to calculate what's needed? There's always the possibility something extra, not on the manifest, has gotten onto the plane.
Simple Fix (Score:4, Informative)
Adopt the policy of Samoan Airlines. Pay based on passenger+luggage weight.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (Score:2)
[1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkP4TJ5jj94
Re:Simple Fix (Score:4, Insightful)
Certainly makes sense, as opposed to most airlines where a 100lb passenger pays the same as a 300lb one, but god forbid your *suitcase* is a pound overweight.
Re: Simple Fix (Score:2)
Not so simple upon second glance. Over complicating the price sheet isn't always a smart idea. The additional cost of weighing each passenger. Fixing errors: "You submitted for 150lbs, and you are 200lbs." Expecting people to deal with the the same sardine sized seat even thou they reported 2x or 3x the lowest weight class.
Just the negative PR from embarrassing customers. Consider that even many normal weight folks think themselves over. The airline that does this isn't going to out class the ones that don
Re: (Score:2)
> Adopt the policy of Samoan Airlines. Pay based on passenger+luggage weight.
They have to weigh them:
According to WorldData.info, male Samoans have the 7th highest BMI in the world at 30.5. Female Samoans have the second highest, after American Samoa, at 34.1. The Samoan males average height is 1.75m (5ft 7) and the average female Samoan is 1.62cm (5ft 3).
Re: (Score:2)
Their fleet consists of [1]four 19 passenger prop planes [wikipedia.org]. With planes that small, variances in individual passenger weights can make a huge difference. Plus, the passenger cabin needs to be carefully balanced.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoa_Airways
Re: (Score:2)
Oops.
[1]Samoa Air [wikipedia.org], the now defunct airline that charged per kilo operated even smaller planes.
BN2 Islander (9 passengers) and Cesna 172 (2 passengers)
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoa_Air
Re: (Score:2)
Would not be legal due to anti discrimination laws. Or they would have to have exceptions for everything - wheelchairs and other medical equipment, medical conditions and treatments that cause weight gain (check the list of side effects on your meds), pregnant passengers, maybe even people required to wear religious dress.
Re: (Score:2)
Nope, that's a bunch of blathering, not what is actually in the ADA.
Your lack of familiarity with the laws is probably also why you wave your hands at "anti discrimination laws" generally. You presume vast protections that don't exist; maybe your AM radio warned you about them?
Re: (Score:2)
It's a British airline, so it will be British law. At least get the right continent.
Anti-Discrimination Laws May Not Apply Here... (Score:2)
Don't forget, in this case the airline was Tui, which I think is some UK "holiday" carrier. That means that the "anti discrimination laws" that would be relevant here would be UK/EU law, specifically the [1]Anti-Discrimination Act of 2010" [www.gov.uk].
This [2]2016 article [theconversation.com] notes that "sizeism" is rampant in the UK workplace, but also goes on to note that "At the moment, there is no legal protection from workplace discrimination merely because you are obese, or even just overweight – either from UK or EU law."
So al
[1] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance
[2] https://theconversation.com/sizeism-rampant-in-uk-workplace-but-eu-law-may-offer-protection-58460
Re: (Score:2)
IANAL, but...
I don't believe it would be a violation of the ADA any more than it's a violation of the ADA for the USPS to charge for the mailing of a package of prescription medicine to a disabled person when that medicine is to treat the qualifying disability.
In the generally progressive state I live, it's common for residential leases to specify that a disabled tenant can modify the residence as needed to accommodate their disability (such as grab bars or ramps). However the modifications must be reviewed