That was my exact point, Yars. I thought about it this AM before I got vertical. When the trim system went crazy on those two airplanes, the very first thing the crews did was activate the yoke mounted trim switch. It got them relief until they let go of it whereupon the MCAS took over again. Had there been training ON the MCAS system – starting with its existence and purpose – the crews would have at least known about it. It could have been said the system is there to make it feel like all the rest of the 737’s. If – additionally – an “MCAS Activated” warning light would have come on with the capability to deactivate MCAS but leave electric trim ops normal, both flights would have ended safely … albeit with an underwear change for the crew.
Here we all sit opining how simple it would have been to do a better job. Meanwhile, in Seattle, the big B is doing damage control, their lawyers are trying to minimize damage, the FAA is working overtime to make it right (because of ODA) and tens of thousands of hours are being wasted … for what? And – as Eric W said – this is a life AND death situation. I sure hope someone from Boeing is reading all of this?
On a major weapon system I worked on, every other Tuesday we had to go before the engineering VP and “confess” issues. Had we done something like this … we’da been swimming with da fishes.