REM@MIT-MC@sri-unix.UUCP (07/20/84)
From: Robert Elton Maas <REM @ MIT-MC> If the ground computer sysem crashes, does the whole navigation system fail at one moment, leaving thousands of airplanes in flight suddenly without location information? The other system with a computer in each plane is more expensive but not prone to any common mode of failure short of EMP from nuclear war. Would there be sufficient backup in the ground computer system to avoid any remote chance of full system crash? (Literally, lots of planes suddenly unable to dodge mountains they had been counting on being able to dodge?)
mcgeer%ucbkim%Berkeley@sri-unix.UUCP (07/20/84)
From: Rick McGeer (on an aaa-60-s) <mcgeer%ucbkim@Berkeley> Foo. In such an event, aircraft would still have the radio and navigational aids they do now, from INS systems on large aircraft down to VOR indicators and ADF needles on small craft, plus (I should hope) navigational charts. Planes aren't robot controlled -- even Cessna 172's are piloted by people who have passed extensive written and flying exams. Rick.