Why did the MoD decide to write it’s own software for the Mk3 Chinook?
If the Mk2 Chinook software was not to blame for the Mull of Kintyre crash in 1994, which the MoD insists is the case, then why did they decide to write their own Fadec engine control software for the Mk3? Of course that ended up being a pigs ear too.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8438659.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1800727.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Scotland_RAF_Chinook_crash
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6808604.ece
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/06/04/236302/chinook-crash-critical-internal-memo-on-software-flaws.htm
http://www.chinook-justice.org/
"Insiders have disclosed that the MoD never asked for the software codes because, under pressure from the Treasury, the department told Boeing that it planned to install its own software, thinking it could do so more cheaply.
Boeing warned the MoD that software integration in a helicopter as complex as a Chinook would be a major challenge. “But they thought they could do it better,” one insider said."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6808604.ece
The insiders say it was to save money, but I wonder if it was more to do with the failings of the Mk2
From my understanding the purchase of the Chinooks was a fiasco. The MOD bought the Chinooks, but didn’t realise they had to buy the operating software separately.
They ended up with multi million pound aircraft with no operating systems.They probably then decided to write their own software as a cheaper option than buying the system designed for the Aircraft.
Last I heard they were all still sitting in a hanger somewhere whilst they decided what to do, sort out their own software or buy the American one which they were going to be charged through the nose for.
scandalous when you think of the army’s need for helicopters at the moment.
And before anyone has a go at the present government, this contract was signed in the early 90’s
Steve Uk Says:
The MOD always has been and always will be a law unto itself mate
References :
Posted on January 3rd, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Light Says:
Control. All our defence industry is now foreign owned, so maybe the scinitllating intellects of the MOD thought they could get some control back.
References :
Posted on January 4th, 2010 at 12:18 am
Corneilius Says:
From my understanding the purchase of the Chinooks was a fiasco. The MOD bought the Chinooks, but didn’t realise they had to buy the operating software separately.
They ended up with multi million pound aircraft with no operating systems.They probably then decided to write their own software as a cheaper option than buying the system designed for the Aircraft.
Last I heard they were all still sitting in a hanger somewhere whilst they decided what to do, sort out their own software or buy the American one which they were going to be charged through the nose for.
scandalous when you think of the army’s need for helicopters at the moment.
And before anyone has a go at the present government, this contract was signed in the early 90’s
References :
Posted on January 4th, 2010 at 1:03 am
The Circus Bearded Lady Says:
NIH (not invented here syndrome).
References :
Posted on January 4th, 2010 at 3:06 am
Deighton Says:
if you bought a DVD player, and it didn’t work because its internal software wasn’t supplied, you’d get a refund right?
so surely Britain was ripped off with this ‘you didn’t buy the software’ con.
One of my old bosses fell victim to this, he rented an IBM computer from a third party without realising it would automatically connect itself to IBM headquarters and give details, who then sent him a bill for software he was using. He had only rented the physical box, not the software it turned out.
References :
Posted on January 4th, 2010 at 3:35 am