Re: Really?
Its actually not a half bad idea but the timing of this announcement is "somewhat tone deaf". Most design and verification is done using simulation these days, it happens in all engineering and scientific fields. The reasons for doing this are partly to reduce cost but mostly because its just not possible to physically build and examine all the design and use cases. The trick is to have carefully chosen physical experiments that are run alongside simulations to keep the simulations honest.
Boeing's problems with the MAX are not due to running tests on models but rather either not running enough tests or running them on inadequate models (....or both). The problem with 737 planes' elevator trim has been around for a long time but somehow as new versions of the plane were developed this issue dropped out of sight until what could only be described as a "poorly executed software kludge" brought it to our attention. This undermined confidence in Boeing's systems engineering, not to mention besmirching the embedded software, so the best thing Boeing could do at this time would be to keep their mouths shut and heads down to give them time to repair their damaged reputation.
(Also, bear in mind that an Airbus is effectively a flying flight simulator......)
Biting the hand that feeds IT
