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Comment by tropo | Hacker News Reader

I didn't say that either, and it doesn't matter. The problem is of the same general type. It's more than close enough. The FAA should be extra-careful, so maybe the A321neo will get banned. If the EASA wants to take a hard line on safety, they can hardly object.

After a bit of high-level discussion using that leverage, things may change.

These decisions, in all countries, are being made with consideration for international economic implications. The resulting decisions will be given technical justification as required.

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But it does matter. This A321neo issue is identified during internal simulated tests, never happened or reported on any commercial or test flight.

The issue consists of the anti-stall protection not being aggressive enough under SPECIFIC circumstances:

- Airplane is in Flare mode - Pilot applies sudden and excessive pitch up - Keeps the pitch during pre stall and stall period

Source: https://leehamnews.com/2019/07/19/bjorns-corner-airbus-a321n...

If it didn't happen on any test flight, the aircraft wasn't adequately tested. That sounds unsafe.

"anti-stall protection not being aggressive enough under SPECIFIC circumstances" means "not enough MCAS in the A321neo"

(there is no leeway for "SPECIFIC circumstances" unless to grant that to the 737-MAX as well)

The FAA could require more MCAS in the A321neo, and of course more testing.

We do not have details of this anomaly, but I hope you understand that some situations must be simulated, flying into them is difficult, maybe not possible, or downright unsafe.

I don't know how much about planes do you know (I'm starting to feel not much since excessive, maintained pitch during flare didn't tell you anything). But the context explained here is rare and obviously more manageable than "one of three redundant sensors failed and an aircraft went out of the sky without giving the crew even a possibility to save their lives".

EDIT: Found new details. The pilot has to keep the excessive pitch although AWARE that he is stalling the aircraft.

Airline security must never be a matter of putting pressure on an organization.

off topic: you sound like a president who thinks that "maximum pressure" is good, but it has not been proven to work.

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