I have to say I am delighted that many countries are now grounding and banning the Boeing 737 Max aircraft from their skies (BP, March 13).
The evidence so far is damning enough to determine this aeroplane is unsafe and Thailand should join the list of those banning it from the air.
The automatic "safety system" run by the AI (artificial intelligence)-driven computers override any input from the pilots in certain situations. The information the computers receive may be faulty, as suggested in the Lion Air crash, however radar tracking information together with logic suggest strongly the latest nosedive which led to the destruction of an Ethiopian aeroplane followed the same scenario.
AI works on algorithmic projections, but it cannot do what it has not been programmed to expect, like the faulty sensors blamed for the Lion Air crash. Without the ability to take manual control the pilots must have just resigned themselves, and the passengers and crew, to a very nasty death since they were denied the opportunity to take control and possibly save everyone on board.
Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the world wide web, said on Tuesday: "Without humans AI can wreak havoc."
It seems to be doing that on several levels already.
Fireman Sam
Asean loses the plot?
It must surely be clear to sensible people that Asean is never going to conclude its so-called negotiations. Kavi Chongkittavom shows how skilled they are at blocking, delaying, obfuscating and, above all, talking for six years.
The bit I like the most is they have increased the numbers involved from 65 to 750 people "needed" to be involved.
There is clearly no will to succeed there. And they get paid for all this work!
Gerry Popplestone
Get real, expats
Re: "Chasing expats out", (PostBag, March 9).
My opinion related to the Immigration Department's requirements that foreigners living in Thailand demonstrate financial reserves adequate to cover reasonable living expenses and possible medical or other emergencies is likely to be unpopular with some expats.
But, personally, I do not think it is unreasonable for the Thai government to demand that foreigners living in the country -- especially elderly retirees -- maintain a balance of at least 800,000 baht to cover unforeseen emergencies and expenses. One could make a case for requiring a lower reserve fund balance for retirees who can show proof of adequate health insurance, but demanding some combination of financial security to address financial emergencies and shocks is not unwarranted.
To simplify the requirements, I would suggest that the reserve balance (be it 800,000 baht or another amount) must be maintained for the duration of the time an expat lives in the kingdom -- not just for a confusing number of months before and after applying for renewal of their long-term visas. Regulations could be crafted to allow for the reserve fund to be restored to the minimum level within a reasonable number of months should the foreigner need to tap the reserve fund for medical or other emergencies.
I feel sympathy for foreigners who may not have adequate savings to meet such financial requirements. But let's be realistic -- 800,000 baht is not a massive amount to expect people to maintain to cover life's unexpected emergencies. Respected financial advisers routinely urge individuals to maintain an "emergency fund" adequate to cover six to 12 months of living. A major medical disorder can easily run into hundreds of thousands of baht for treatment.
Samanea Saman
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