Avionics Software Outsourcing Deal Draws Fire (Bad Idea)

[OhioChick]

The deal is raising flags among offshoring opponents, who question whether mission-critical software should be written by international teams.

Jan 29, 2007 09:00 AM

Washington -- An alliance between a U.S. embedded-software services company and an Indian-based partner to outsource avionics software development is raising flags among offshoring opponents, who question whether mission-critical software should be written by international teams.

Avista Inc. (Platteville, Wis.) and Silver Software (Malmesbury, England) last week announced an alliance they said would allow aircraft makers and avionics companies to shift software development offshore while retaining U.S.-based project management.

The partnership will "provide significant cost benefits" to aircraft makers, said Avista president James Schneller. The larger the project, the greater the savings, he added.

Norm Matloff, a computer science professor at the University of California at Davis and a leading U.S. opponent of offshoring, said that overseas development of avionics software is a bad idea. He also questioned whether the alliance between Avista and Silver Software, which has a software development facility in Bengaluru, India, would actually result in cost savings. While aircraft makers and avionics contractors might benefit, Matloff said, "the software costs amount to a minuscule portion of the average airline ticket."

http://www.informationweek.com/outsourcing/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=197001129

[htuttle]

1. "whether mission-critical software should be written by international teams"

Um, don't they use Windows to run some of the more modern naval warships (the so-called 'Smart Ships')? Do they think that Windows is written entirely in Redmond? Or is it the case that since it's 'COTS' (Commercial Off The Shelf) software, it doesn't merit examination?

:shrug:

We're so vulnerable on this, we don't even know how vulnerable we are...

[OhioChick]

2. ...

"We're so vulnerable on this, we don't even know how vulnerable we are..."

You're so right.

[nebenaube]

10. oh..

oh man, you've got to be kidding, right, tell me you are kidding? please tell me that our defense does not hinge on microsoft having gotten it right... please, please, please.... <stack overflow> abort, ignore, retry? BOOOOOOOOM!

[htuttle]

11. The last I heard about that particular program was 1998

...when someone inadvertently entered a 'zero' in a text entry field, and crashed the ship's computer with a 'divide-by-zero' error (and disabled the ship - I believe it had to be towed back in):
http://www.gcn.com/print/17_17/33727-1.html
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,13987,00.html

Whoops!

They use commercial (COTS) software all throughout every level of government, however. I don't believe any of it is really 'checked out' as long as it theoretically fulfills the contractual software specifications. I know for a fact they use all sorts of proprietary software they don't have the source code for.

[aquart]

3. It's insane.

Kinda like our companies running factories in Germany during the War. India's a pal NOW. Five, ten years, don't count on it.

[hogwyld]

4. That light at the end of the tunnel

is NOT the end of the tunnel...

[aquart]

5. Sometimes it's just an oncoming train.

[lovuian]

6. Its military and security not safe

but the NWO doesn't care if they destroy America

thats the purpose

[bobthedrummer]

7. Avista Inc was acquired by Esterline-here's a datadump on them

James Schneller Jr. is the founder, President and GM of Avista Inc
Avista Inc Executive Staff
http://www.avistainc.com/about/staff.stm

Avista Inc Amended&Restated it's Articles of Incorporation in December 2003 when it was acquired by Esterline
http://sec.edgar-online.com/2003/12/18/0000891020-03-002869/Section125.asp

James Schneller Jr. and other Avista Inc. people contribute to Republican candidates
http://www.city-data.com/elec/elec-PLATTEVILLE-WI.html

Esterline has many links to some controversial political and arms deals especially in the UK (including BAE Systems:Esterline acquired BAE's Electronic Passive Expendables Division in August 2002)
Esterline factsheet
http://www.esterline.com/profile/factsheet.stm

Esterline Directors and Officers
http://www.esterline.com/profile/directors_officers.stm

Esterline holdings include the world's leader in combustible ordnance and a lot of other "products" an Esterline worker was killed by an explosion at it's UK Wallop Defence Systems facility last year
http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2006/06/26/daily9.html

I can't help about wondering if there is a connection between Esterline and the late CIA "dirty warrior" Jacob D. Esterline.

Maybe someone else could find out some things about these people since it is known that "commissions" from BAE have helped support terrorists including OBL.

[ChromeFoundry]

8. I don't think I ever want to fly again...

I've seen how poorly written many of the offshored projects are. I know this because I have had to clean it up, again, this morning!

[bobthedrummer]

9. It's entirely a bad idea yet it keeps HOMELAND (tm) safe and financially sound. eom