INGENIEUR
stabiliser control system . The take-off phase is a critical phase of an aircraft operation and pilots would not have enough time to respond to the faulty MCAS activation , about which the pilots literally had no knowledge . The report also cited that Boeing intentionally omitted the MCAS crucial system in their training manuals and pilots ’ training . Pilots were not aware of the criticality of the MCAS system . Pilots were not informed about the “ overriding pilot ” characteristics of MCAS and how to switch off the MCAS system in an emergency . Contrast this to BEM Circular No . 001 , paragraph 2.1.6 which states that a registered professional engineer shall be objective and truthful in making professional reports , statements and testimonies . He shall include all relevant pertinent information in such reports , statements or testimonies , which should bear the date indicating when the information was current .
Engineers must continue to practise safety over profit . A single AOA system to activate the massive MCAS system violated the redundancy requirements which are the basics of engineering safety and design . As awkward as it may sound , the question arises whether the engineers that designed such a system were competent enough to understand the complex operation of an aircraft system and had the right ability to design the flight control software for the B737MAX MCAS system . Were factors such as redundancy and take-off critical workload factored in to ensure that the aircraft is safe under such circumstances ? In the BEM Circular No . 001 , Code of Conduct paragraph 2.1.2 states that a registered person ( engineer ) shall check with due diligence the accuracy of facts and data before he signs or endorses any statement or claim . He shall not sign such documents unless , where necessary , he has made qualifications on errors and inaccuracies . This appeared to have been violated .
The certification process by Boeing and FAA had clearly failed to pick up and correct the faulty design until 346 innocent lives perished . What happened to the oversight and certification process that was supposed to capture this faulty design ? Were the processes done credibly ? There was also the question of why the MCAS was designed to operate repeatedly during its activation denying the pilot ’ s ability to take command of the aircraft . There was no provision in the software for pilots to manually override the MCAS system as and when required . This is a violation of RER 24 ( a ), where the engineers have failed to discharge their professional duties with due skill , care , diligence and good faith .
Boeing started as an engineering-based organisation that emphasised the safety and marvel of aeronautical engineering to build products that are safe and reliable . Boeing was one of the most successful corporations in the USA . However , the development of the flawed B737MAX MCAS system to overcome the competitive pressure , market share and financial gain serves to warn the engineering community — engineers , consultants and contractors — that safety must be the first priority , which is well specified by REA , RER and BEM Circular No . 001 , Code of Conduct of Registered Person .
Moving Into the Future - Ethical Needs in the Engineering profession
Looking into the future , we need engineers who are passionate and understand the noble role of engineers who emphasise the paramount importance of safety . The core competencies of engineering knowledge and application must always be part of the engineer . Incompetence leads to miscalculations and the overlooking of critical requirements which may lead to accidents or catastrophes in the design or engineering services provided . The core attitude of discipline , dedication and responsibility which is part of the code of ethics of a professional is the value an engineer must possess at all times .
We also need to inspire the younger generation with the success stories of engineers who have made a great impact on the society and the world we live in today . I am responsible for the recruitment of engineers in my organisation . In the last few years , I am quite concerned that candidates do not seem to be interested in engineering . The majority of them are motivated not by engineering but rather by immediate “ excessive ” monetary demands despite not having any experience . Some even failed terribly the recruitment test on engineering fundamentals .
52 VOL 92 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2022