[F111John]

Gregory,

In your paper, you erroneously claim that the MCAS system creates forward pressure on the control column ("pushes the pilot's control columns in the down direction".) This is incorrect. MCAS only acts on Horizontal Stabilizer Trim, and doesn't work at all when autopilot (which does provide control column forces) is active.

You also claim that the 737MAX doesn't have "mechanical connections between the pilot's controls and the things on the wings, rudder, etc." when the 737MAX does have full mechanical linkages between the control columns and the flight control surfaces. Those surfaces are normally hydraulically actuated, but if all hydraulics fail there is physical manual control of the elevator and ailerons, also known as "manual reversion."

Because of these glaring errors, your paper loses much of its credibility in critiquing Boeing designers.