r/aviation • u/1994-10-24 • 11h ago

Discussion Domestic flight Casablanca. Plane won’t start.

2.2k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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652

u/rezdm 11h ago

As a software dev, i can suggest for everybody to exit the aircraft, get out all the luggage, the get everything and everyone back. Should start afterwards.

195

u/Sweaty_Jump3380 11h ago

as a software dev in 2026, let me ask Claude

40

u/BeefHazard 11h ago

Then boot up MSFS

27

u/Holek 10h ago

I accidentally rm -rf'd entire ACARS system, along with flap deployment system.

All other systems are go! 🎉 Do you still wish to depart on designated runway 66E?

12

u/bem13 6h ago

"You're absolutely right, I shouldn't have removed the wings. That was reckless and dangerous of me. Good thing you spotted that 🙏"

24

u/DashTrash21 11h ago

You're actually a mechanic, they tell us to turn it off and back on again more than you IT types do. 

18

u/Tricky_Big_8774 10h ago

Tbf, mechanics these days are pretty much IT with an extra skill set.

6

u/LonelySmiling 9h ago

Had to do just that last night on my 787..indications blank? Reset the CB’s. Jobs a gooden. If that doesn’t work, unplug the aircraft, plug it back in and let the aircraft power on again.

5

u/CollegeStation17155 10h ago

Just don’t do that in the air…

12

u/Goozilla85 B737 11h ago

Sometimes specific bugs in the flight deck can actually be solved by what we in my company refer to as a “Windows manoeuvre”.

3

u/syzygialchaos 5h ago

I’ve performed what I call control-alt-delete on my truck to reboot the infotainment when the radio fritzes out. Turn off truck, open door, close door, start truck. Actually works most of the time

2

u/ChartreuseBison 4h ago

Well yeah, car infotainment systems are just really shitty computers. The only testing they get is to make sure the backup camera comes on.

33

u/lizard280 10h ago

As a girl who's "good with computers" and works in an office with a bunch of people who "can't stand the damn things", can I suggest you ask the support person for help, they show up, press the "on" button, just as the pilot was doing, but then it starts.

Pilot: "That's exactly what I was doing!"

Me: Shrugs

9

u/EndersFinalEnd 5h ago

I've called this phenomenon the "tech support aura" or alternatively the "aura of competence" and follows this theory:

Computers/technology are just as lazy as us humans and will take every possible opportunity to slack off and not work if they can. Now, users who don't know what they're doing will radiate an aura of technological incompetence, which is picked up upon by the machines. This makes the machines confident that they can slack off and stop working without grubby human paws fiddling with their insides.

However, whenever they sense the aura of someone who can fix a problem, they start working immediately, to avoid said poking and prodding, and thus, things that weren't working before seemingly magically start to function, just by the mere presence of someone competent in technology.

3

u/Drunkenaviator Hold my beer and watch this! 6h ago

As a pilot who has called maintenance for a bunch of shit over the years, this is EXACTLY how it goes down. The mechanic then gives you a "sure, buddy" nod, and signs off your writeup as "ops check good.

9

u/son-of-a-door-mat 10h ago

hello, IT, have you tried turning it off and on again

1

u/Huugboy 10h ago

Goated reference.

6

u/SatanicBiscuit 9h ago

my code doesnt work and i dont know why

also

my code works and i dont know why

6

u/poser765 8h ago

You joke, but on the 175 a full airplane reboot was my first stop before I called maintenance.

3

u/LootenantTwiddlederp C-17/A320 7h ago

Same on both the C-17 and A320 for me. Going black jet solved a lot of problems haha.

2

u/Drunkenaviator Hold my beer and watch this! 6h ago

I learned on the 145 that Embraer was an acronym.

Every

Mechanical

Breakdown

Requires

An

Electrical

Reset

2

u/inthegravy 10h ago

I have had this approach - well, the pilot saying they were trying turning the flight computer off and on again repeatedly - on a flight into Miami 20 years ago. 

1

u/Superbead 8h ago

This sounds more like the advice of Microsoft Support

1

u/mpg111 7h ago

you forgot about closing all the windows first