* Posts by Lars

4256 publicly visible posts • joined 21 May 2007

Aviation regulators push for more automation so flights can be run by a single pilot

Lars Silver badge

@bazza

That is a bit harsh. The least experienced pilot was "behind the helm" that night and as the system claimed the speed was too high he pulled back.

The result was a slow stall towards the ocean. He did ask for help and the captain who had been sleeping understood what was happening but it was too late then.

You find (not in their voices) what was said in the cockpit until the end, on YouTube.

Lars Silver badge
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I think we fell, if not we pushed each other down.

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@Furious Reg reader John

My problem and the reason I wonder about it, is perhaps that I have had the habit of looking at all those "air crash" programs and some of the human errors are indeed stunning.

Often, of course, it's a combination of both, but still, take the plane where one engine caught fire but the pilot shut down the working engine,

Or the three pilots trying to change a tiny light bulb in the cockpit and forgot they had not switched on the autopilot and ended in the Everglades, and so forth, and what about the suicides.

I would claim pilots are not keen on deleting automation, or as Juan Browne on the Blancolirio channel said about the difference in approach to automation between Boeing and Airbus (having experience flying both brands), Airbus has the better approach.

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Re: AI to the Rescue?

"I presume you're talking about AI-based automation".

No, not really, but improving the software is like learning as it adds to the "previous" knowledge.

Lars Silver badge
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Re: FFS

Yes there are questions.

But I wonder about the relation between "human made errors" and "technical errors" causing accidents in the air.

There is one thing to remember regarding automation, it will actually get better and better and learn, while we, meat bags, all start from scratch, and that goes for every pilot too.

My choice would be to keep both pilots but to keep on advancing the automation.

And that of course is where we are today.

It would take a 'catastrophic' recession to stop tech spend growth, says IBM boss

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Re: Yeah, well

"Very strange times ahead."

Has it ever been different in human history.

Suppose I need one.

India follows EU's example in requiring USB-C charging for smart devices

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Joke

I suggest we change the users.

NASA's Artemis mission finally launches after faulty Ethernet switch delayed countdown

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Re: Flawed

It easily gets confusing but:

SLS refer to the Space Launch System, a launch vehicle developed by NASA.

Starship is a fully-reusable, super-heavy-lift launch vehicle being developed by American aerospace company SpaceX. If successful, Starship will be the most powerful launch vehicle ever built and is expected to be the first to demonstrate total reusability.

Starship HLS, or Starship Human Landing System, is a lunar lander variant of the Starship spacecraft that will transfer astronauts from a lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon and back. It is being designed and built by SpaceX under contract to NASA as a critical element of NASA's Artemis program to land a crew on the Moon in the 2020s.

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@cray74

AC is no doubt thinking of the RD-180 engines that came from Russia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RD-180

"The RD-180 is a rocket engine designed and built in Russia. It features a dual combustion chamber, dual-nozzle design and is fueled by a RP-1/LOX mixture. The RD-180 is derived from the RD-170/RD-171 line of rocket engines, which were used in the Soviet Energia launch vehicle and are still in use in the Ukrainian Zenit launch vehicles.

.. the engines were imported to the US for use on the Lockheed Martin Atlas III, with first flight in 2000. The engine is also used on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V, the successor to the Atlas III.

RD-180 engines are also used for the first stage of the American Atlas V launch vehicle, which is being phased out due to the national security implications of being reliant on foreign parts[1] which became of concern after the Russian invasion of Crimea.".

The story of those engines is actually quite interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMbl_ofF3AM&t=91s

The Engines That Came In From The Cold - And how The NK-33/RD-180 Came To The USA

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Re: Flawed

There is a long way (several years) before Starship is anything to count one.

This doesn't mean it will fail but I must admit I have started to wonder if Musk has lost his ability to concentrate on anything these days.

For some not too uptodate information:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Starship

China's first domestic single-aisle jet, the C919, scores 300 orders

Lars Silver badge
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Re: Historically

@Justthefacts

I think you should also realise that 95% of the world's population doesn't have the same mental problem regarding the French as some Brits have.

The paint problem is annoying and expensive for Airbus but it's not seen as an air safety problem by anybody else but Quatar.

And I think we know why they took that step.

Lars Silver badge
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Re: they have become fairly good at producing cars for the domestic market by now.

Worried no doubt like the Americans too. But the worry is about competition around the world.

What you like to call artificial barriers (a silly word and wrongly spelled) is about trade agreements.

Nobody is forced to buy a single Chinese car, but as countries like to also export to China they will have an agreement on what can be exported and imported, hopefully not using a "Truss" for that.

I had one of the very first Toyotas in Europe, a Toyota Corona 1966 1,5L.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Corona#Third_generation_(T40,_T50;_1964)

It served me well and was totally problem free, unexciting, (the next was an Alfa Romeo 1750 with every possible problem, but exciting).

The big joke then was - Lars when will you get a real Yota.

I saw the Toyota more than 20 years later in the traffic, still looking sound.

Anyway, will the Chinese manage the same, who knows, but they will try, but regardless we still produce cars in Europe too.

And the number one and two in the world are Toyota and VW.

Lars Silver badge
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@Disgusted Of Tunbridge Wells

I think we all know they will sell outside of China too, eventually. It's only a question of time, and the home market will keep them busy for a long time.

And then there is the question of trade policy.

I feel no personal urge to fly on a Chinese aircraft but that is because I think it's a good thing to have them produced closer to "home".

And I am not that surprised if the Chinese feel the same, and I think they have become fairly good at producing cars for the domestic market by now.

Lars Silver badge
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@ChrisC

That is a bit silly.

Do you really think those customers would like to take all the aircraft they have ordered right now.

Companies plan for the future and place their orders in advance with all sorts of opt outs and fully aware of the delivery times.

All the US midterm-related lies to expect when you're electing

Lars Silver badge
Unhappy

"it all seems as though US politicians have Xi / Putin envy".

It's the result of a two party system where the goal is always a one party system.

But the envy for Putin was indeed very strong with Trump, perhaps still.

Sizewell C nuclear plant up for review as UK faces financial black hole

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Re: Daft

@TVU

Not my business, but I would still point out that when the state invests in something like HS2 then a large proportion of that £150 billion, or what ever, will return to the state coffers.

It's not like buying something for £150 billion from China or ..

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Re: Daft

@Roland6

Yes I would agree it takes about 10 years, and perhaps less when the experience and the people are there.

But what prevents you from starting ten projects at the same time, except the people and the money perhaps.

Right now there are +50 new coming up during the next 10 years, probably more.

Lars Silver badge
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Re: Daft

Oh please guys can you not just agree that you have been rubbish for at least 40 years.

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Re: "We picked the EPR over existing designs and have sort of sealed our fate"

@AC

"It is a shame that westinghouse is no more".

Where did you get that from.

"In October 2022, Westinghouse was selected to build Poland's first nuclear power plant based on six AP1000 reactors.

Westinghouse also has business locations in Italy, Germany, Spain, the UK, Russia, and Bulgaria. "

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westinghouse_Electric_Company

I would however like to point out that the EPR you have picked was picked because the French and the Chinese were willing to build it and finace it.

I am not at all sure Westinghouse or any other provider was willing to finance anything similar in Britain now..

UK facing electricity supply woes after nuclear power stations shut, MPs told

Lars Silver badge
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Re: "Nuclear waste is safe and not a problem if handled correctly"

@MachDiamond

We need action now, and while we act we can go on babbling about the perfect solution freely too.

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Re: Funny

@Jake

The sunlight I use right now left the sun 8 minutes ago, it's free to use, and I am not depleting the sun, no help is needed by me.

Lars Silver badge
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Re: Lack of energy policy for 30 years, nuclear costs

@VoiceOfTruth

One thing you don't mention is that Britain is one of those countries using gas for cooking and heating homes. That was never a smart solution to stick with.

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Re: Funny

@R Soul

The solution in Finland is not too bad. The Americans are planning something similar if in a mountain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYpiK3W-g_0

Finland Might Have Solved Nuclear Power’s Biggest Problem

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Re: Lack of energy policy for 30 years, nuclear costs

@nichomach

"shelved by the coalition".

Funny how it's always the Liberals at fault in the coalition and never the Tory with the majority.

China reminds world shock and ore can hurt tech supply chains

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@Yet Another Anonymous coward

The pipeline that was blown up was the nr2 pipe, not in use and that goes to Germany.

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Rare earth

There is a lot about the topic on the Wikipedia, including this.

"As a result of the increased demand and tightening restrictions on exports of the metals from China, some countries are stockpiling rare-earth resources.[61] Searches for alternative sources in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, Tanzania, Greenland, and the United States are ongoing.[62] Mines in these countries were closed when China undercut world prices in the 1990s, and it will take a few years to restart production as there are many barriers to entry.[47][63] Significant sites under development outside China include Steenkampskraal in South Africa, the world's highest grade rare earths and thorium mine, closed in 1963, but has been gearing to go back into production.[64] Over 80% of the infrastructure is already complete.[65] Other mines include the Nolans Project in Central Australia, the Bokan Mountain project in Alaska, the remote Hoidas Lake project in northern Canada,[66] and the Mount Weld project in Australia.[38][63][67] The Hoidas Lake project has the potential to supply about 10% of the $1 billion of REE consumption that occurs in North America every year.[68] Vietnam signed an agreement in October 2010 to supply Japan with rare earths[69] from its northwestern Lai Châu Province."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare-earth_element

Tiny quantum computer plugs into top Euro supercomputer – because why not?

Lars Silver badge
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About LUMI

LUMI is co-funded by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking and the LUMI Consortium, which is composed of the following countries: Finland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland. The total budget is €144.5 million.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LUMI

As Russia wages disinfo war, Ukraine's cyber chief calls for global anti-fake news fight

Lars Silver badge
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Re: Why is it...

Well it's why it's called "whataboutism".

"Whataboutism or whataboutery (as in "what about…?") denotes in a pejorative sense a procedure in which a critical question or argument is not answered or discussed, but retorted with a critical counter-question which expresses a counter-accusation. From a logical and argumentative point of view it is considered a variant of the tu-quoque pattern (Latin 'you too', term for a counter-accusation), which is a subtype of the ad-hominem argument.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism

Should I now assume you feel that if the USA has made bad things Putin is fully free to do so too.

And we should all chime in with - "yes well you see, also the Americans...".

Lars Silver badge
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Can we hold our own

A good question and disturbing.

Certainly too many fell for the voter fraud idiocy in the USA and too many for the Brexit bus in Britain.

How I made a Chrome extension for converting Reg articles to UK spelling

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Re: Concerns

@diodesign

But why bother about it at all, some of your people will write one way and some the other way.

And we who comment will do the same.

Why bother.

Or as the Finns say why "rassata verta nenästä" which Google translate translates to "to draw blood from the nose" which again has assassinated the spirit in it.

Anyway i will still read u.

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Re: We may well remember

Please don't mix in dialects with spelling.

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Re: *article paid for by Google

That was stupid, because the French sat down for lunch one hour before the British knew it was lunch time.

Some jokes work only domestically and should be kept domestic.

Lars Silver badge
WTF?

@AC

Why do you have an issue with that.

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Not in Europe I would claim.

Lars Silver badge
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None of my business

But the American spelling is mostly just a bit simpler.

After all, is the "u" in colour that important and is it not the French "connection" sort of.

Most of the differences are similar, making things easier.

I use an English spell checker as it's the way I was taught the language but to be honest, this will not upset me at all.

But please don't go for the silly formats for dates, English or American.

Boffins shatter data transmission speed record

Lars Silver badge
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Re: It is not "Technical University of Denmark"

The Wikipedia has it like this:

"The Technical University of Denmark (Danish: Danmarks Tekniske Universitet), often simply referred to as DTU, is a polytechnic university and school of engineering. It was founded in 1829 at the initiative of Hans Christian Ørsted as Denmark's first polytechnic, and it is today ranked among Europe's leading engineering institutions."

"From 1933, the institution was officially known as Danmarks tekniske Højskole (DtH), which commonly was translated into English, as the 'Technical University of Denmark'."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_University_of_Denmark

Liz Truss ousted as UK prime minister, outlived by online lettuce

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Re: Please help me here

@codejunky

Yes of course, but it's worse in a two party country where everything is either or.

In most countries, countries with several parties you have a center and a center left or right (most people) and then the more or less far right or far left.

This represents the people (any country) a lot better than the either or system still in use in some countries, sadly.

Also it creates coalition governments and as the Wiki points out.

"A 2001 World Bank study found that parliamentary systems are associated with less corruption."

Lars Silver badge
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Now that she is gone

We can afford a few kind words I think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIh7XJVxCAY

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Re: John Cleese? Cancelled?

Her biggest mistake was not realizing she is unfit for the task.

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Re: Serious point amongst all this humour !!!

"No government for 2 years - but you still have beer, chocolate, waffles and chips (with mayonnaise)"

And a higher GDP per capita, both nominal and ppp, than the British.

Perhaps there is indeed a lot to that. How surprising.

Lars Silver badge
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Re: Serious point amongst all this humour !!!

It won't help unless you mend the politial system of a two party country with a one party government held in place much by fptp.

Lars Silver badge
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Re: Free speech, duh

@Mooseman

No that is not true, the Netherlands and Belgium don't even together have the same GDP as Russia. Using the 2022 estimates in the Wikipedia.

The value for Russia right now of course is anybody's guess. (the less the better).

Lars Silver badge
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Re: Please help me here

@Disgusted Of Tunbridge Wells

Everything is left wing when you are on the far right.

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Re: If a mistake is bad enough ...

The problem is that there are no competent leaders to vote for.

Linux kernel 6.1 will contain fixes, features. Useful Rust modules? Not yet

Lars Silver badge

Re: Linux remains an unmade bed

@Lordrobot

That was stupid.

Chinese city of Shenzhen offers free money to boost chip industry

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Re: Government grants to industry

The numbers are from 2020, the average for the EU is 2.32 and the numbers for the UK, 1.71, is from 1019.

California legalizes digital license plates for all vehicles

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Re: Wow, dark thought

Plates made in prisons is rather common around the world I think.

Lars Silver badge
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"the plate doesn't change for the lifetime of the vehicle.".

I think that is the case in several European countries.

UK politico proposes site for prototype nuclear fusion plant

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Re: Energy Engineering Measures

@Peter Gathercole

There was a passenger ship named Finnjet that was propelled by a jet engine and very fast. It run between Finland and Germany mostly.

I happened to know one engineer involved with it and he told me how the engine was so "small" but the gearbox huge for getting the high revs down to drive the propeller.

Lars Silver badge
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Re: Hot gas

@fg_swe

Yes but some countries use gas for cooking too and to produce a makeshift chimney in an apartment house is not a good idea.

I used to have one of those oil burning things in my summer cottage but switch to electricity many many years ago.

These days I am thinking of one of those "air pumps" as the summers are getting too hot at times.