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voodoo · 07:31 AM

Yes yes I'll be the first to admit that I'm rarely comfortable flying. This however has done nothing to improve my discomfort. This photo was taken on a Boeing 777 by an aviation enthusiast to show the new TFT panels on the flight deck. Here is his comment on his photo:

N5017V I have been getting a lot of email about the TFT screens installed on the flightdeck of the 777-300ER prototype, so here is a close up. It appears to be a standard Microsoft Windows 2000 desktop, including Outlook and Internet Explorer.

[if the photo doesn't work try this direct link: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/323564/L/ ]

This is the 777ER (Extended Range) prototype which is getting ready for production any month now.

I just want to ask airplane makers (Airbus and Boeing) - if you use Microsoft windows in your passenger airplanes, well are you ****ING RETARDED??!

TETENAL · Jan 27, 2005, 06:02 AM

Este TFT with Windows doesn't look like it's an integral part of the airplane. It looks more like it's tentatively attached � probably for some testing purposes.

Maybe badidea knows for sure, but I would bet that the software running the planes is self-written software with proven correctness (yes, it's actually possible to prove that software is correct).

Super Mario · Jan 27, 2005, 06:20 AM

War against terrorism has to include war against Windows!

badidea · Jan 27, 2005, 06:30 AM

Originally posted by TETENAL:
Este TFT with Windows doesn't look like it's an integral part of the airplane. It looks more like it's tentatively attached � probably for some testing purposes.

Maybe badidea knows for sure, but I would bet that the software running the planes is self-written software with proven correctness (yes, it's actually possible to prove that software is correct).

No, I don't know anything about what software is used for the multimedia systems!
I think this is either up to the company that makes this multimedia stuff or to the airline and what kind of stuff they order!?!
I don't even know who I could ask about that but I am pretty sure though that you won't see OS X running on one of those LCDs (maybe I should suggest that they install a mini for every passenger - can't be more expensive than what they use now)!

TETENAL · Jan 27, 2005, 06:55 AM

Originally posted by badidea:
No, I don't know anything about what software is used for the multimedia systems!
I think this is either up to the company that makes this multimedia stuff or to the airline and what kind of stuff they order!?!
I don't even know who I could ask about that but I am pretty sure though that you won't see OS X running on one of those LCDs (maybe I should suggest that they install a mini for every passenger - can't be more expensive than what they use now)!

Not sure whether there is a misunderstanding here, but we're not talking about entertainment systems for the passengers. It would be overkill to only use software with correctness-proof there. If the DVD player that shows the in-flight movie crashes, the stewardess is going to reboot it and that's it.

This thread is about the software that is operating the airplane.

mitchell_pgh · Jan 27, 2005, 06:56 AM

I hear the A380 is running Windows 3.1 with the new 3.2 SE upgrade.

voodoo · Jan 27, 2005, 07:06 AM

Originally posted by TETENAL:
Not sure whether there is a misunderstanding here, but we're not talking about entertainment systems for the passengers. It would be overkill to only use software with correctness-proof there. If the DVD player that shows the in-flight movie crashes, the stewardess is going to reboot it and that's it.

This thread is about the software that is operating the airplane.

Indeed, I just don't feel comfortable knowing MS Windows has even *touched* the operating software of any plane intended for living things. I'm sorry but I'd rather fly Aeroflot with a bunch of Chechen terrorists than in a plane that was controlled by MS Windows. At least I'd have a fighting chance with the terrorists but the Windows could just go boom for no apparent reason other than it is a bloated piece of crap that is made by a company that beta tests its OS by releasing it to the public.

That TFT is connected to a computer. That computer is on or in that 777. That computer is running Windows. A crime in itself, but why is it there? Are we seeing the face of the airplane OS and it is Windows 2000? (Remember the "smart" ship that W2000 controlled and was DEAD IN THE WATER and had to be TOWED back to shore when that POS OS crapped it self and bluescreened due to a bug?)

I don't think a bluescreened 777 can be towed back to the next airport so if this is indeed the flight operating system controlling the airplane I honestly ask: Are they RETARDED?

badidea · Jan 27, 2005, 07:16 AM

Originally posted by TETENAL:
Not sure whether there is a misunderstanding here, but we're not talking about entertainment systems for the passengers. It would be overkill to only use software with correctness-proof there. If the DVD player that shows the in-flight movie crashes, the stewardess is going to reboot it and that's it.

This thread is about the software that is operating the airplane.

BIG MISUNDERSTANDING!

The picture doesn't work for me and it seems that I didn't read carefully enough - I missed the word "flightdeck"!

I have even less than none information about the software used in the cockpit (and if I would, I wouldn't tell)!

We do have a lot of FTI (First Test Installation) stuff in every plane though that will be removed when the plane is ready - maybe it's one of those things!?

Super Mario · Jan 27, 2005, 07:20 AM

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
I hear the A380 is running Windows 3.1 with the new 3.2 SE upgrade.

Wrong because I know its Windows 3.1 XP. XP meaning Xtra Prone to crash.

TETENAL · Jan 27, 2005, 07:26 AM

Originally posted by badidea:
We do have a lot of FTI (First Test Installation) stuff in every plane though that will be removed when the plane is ready - maybe it's one of those things!?

That's how it looks like to me. The photo doesn't work for me too, but if you search for keywords 777 TFT you will find it.

http://www.airliners.net/search/index.main

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/323564/M/

voodoo · Jan 27, 2005, 07:27 AM

Originally posted by Super Mario:
Wrong because I know its Windows 3.1 XP. XP meaning Xtra Prone to crash.

(neat photoshop by OlePigeon)

badidea · Jan 27, 2005, 07:34 AM

Originally posted by TETENAL:
That's how it looks like to me. The photo doesn't work for me too, but if you search for keywords 777 TFT you will find it.

http://www.airliners.net/search/index.main

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/323564/M/

Whatever it is, I am sure this is not used to control the airplane with a freeware called "WinPilot"!

Honestly, it doesn't look like a permanently installed monitor (look at the cables and the bar code sticker) and who needs Outlook and IE to keep a plane in the sky...??

mitchell_pgh · Jan 27, 2005, 07:36 AM

The last thing heard in the black box:

"Oh, just plug in that keyboard to the USB....." <static>

mitchell_pgh · Jan 27, 2005, 07:39 AM

Tooki approved 480px wide

i_rooster · Jan 27, 2005, 07:43 AM

BYOKM?
but that tft and windows could be for visiting the mile high club the easy way!

BoomStick · Jan 27, 2005, 07:47 AM

My cessna has a glass gyro system in it, and I can tell you it DEFINATELY doesn't use windoze.

Just for safety's sake I still have an analog rpm guage, altimeter and attitude gyro.

Super Mario · Jan 27, 2005, 07:47 AM

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
The last thing heard in the black box:

"Oh, just plug in that keyboard to the USB....." <static>

The problem was the blackbox was also a usb device! They bought it from Hewlett Packard's website. Price only $100 + free shipping! It can record and play MP3 and HP is saying it is the latest iPod Killar!

chabig · Jan 27, 2005, 09:08 AM

That picture shows a prototype Electronic Flight Bag (EFB). Most of them are running Windows (I don't like that, but it's reality), but on the plus side, they don't transfer information to the airplane, nor can they cause an airplane problem. All they are for is to replace the large, heavy bag of paper that we pilots carry around.

Chris

dcmacdaddy · Jan 27, 2005, 09:52 AM

Originally posted by chabig:
That picture shows a prototype Electronic Flight Bag (EFB). Most of them are running Windows (I don't like that, but it's reality), but on the plus side, they don't transfer information to the airplane, nor can they cause an airplane problem. All they are for is to replace the large, heavy bag of paper that we pilots carry around.

Chris

What are those papers? Flight plans, maps, weather reports?

chabig · Jan 27, 2005, 10:15 AM

They are navigation charts for all of the areas and airports in which we fly, a company operating manual which contains standard company operating procedures and reference information, and an airplane flight manual which describes the systems on the airplane and how it is to be operated.

Chris

dcmacdaddy · Jan 27, 2005, 10:19 AM

Originally posted by chabig:
They are navigation charts for all of the areas and airports in which we fly, a company operating manual which contains standard company operating procedures and reference information, and an airplane flight manual which describes the systems on the airplane and how it is to be operated.

Chris

An airplane flight manual, eh? That's not like a user's guide is it?
How often would you need to reference the flight manual?

wdlove · Jan 27, 2005, 10:20 AM

A very interesting picture.