Boeing 777 (WAS: naval systems)

[Simon Pilgrim <simon.pilgrim@baesystems.com>]

tony gair wrote:

> 2) The contract for the fly by wire system was completed by Marconi Avionics
> in Elstree, UK, who are mainly Ada programmers and normally do Big Guns
> projects. This probably decided the project language. The ready availability
> of design, and test tools used on Big Guns projects was possibly also a
> deciding factor.

As Dave stated in another reply, you are a bit wide of the mark there. 
Marconi Avionics has been through a few name changes and a merger, but
the flight controls has always been based in Rochester, Kent, UK.  We
are now part of BAE SYSTEMS, Avionic Systems Division.

We have been making civil and military flight control systems for many
years for aircraft such as Concorde, Eurofighter, Canadair RJ, Airbus
A320, UAVs and many more.  I believe it was this system knowledge and
our well-established relationship with Boeing, rather than any specific
language experience that influenced Boeing to select us.

> There were initially three different languages that were going to be used
> for the project, but this idea was scrapped in favour of exclusively using
> Ada.

The three languages were originally: C, Ada and PLM.  We now use a
subset of Ada, running on three different targets.

> Would you fly on this aircraft?

I have and I loved it.  I even stood under the flight path at the
airfield perimeter when the 777-200 took off for first flight (along
with several hundred other proud people).

The Boeing 777 was probably tested more than any other previous aircraft
before it left the ground, thanks to the enormous amount of simulation
work done.  You say you were present on the project testing phase, so
must have seen the huge investment Boeing made in the IASL (Integrated
Avionics Systems Laboratory?).  Also the huge amount of dedication and
professionalism from those involved.

If you wouldn't fly on the 777 because of safety concerns, you must live
in a bunker with a tin-foil beanie hat ;-)

-- 
Regards,
Simon Pilgrim
Civil Flight Controls, Rochester, UK
All views expressed are my own and not necessarily those of my employer.