Re: FAA To Finally Ditch Floppy Disks & Win-95

On 6/15/25 2:36 PM, rbowman wrote:

On Sat, 14 Jun 2025 22:41:25 -0400, c186282 wrote:
 

    Nylon has been around in quantity since the 40s. Somehow I doubt it's
    qualities were 'unknown'
    in the 50s and beyond
>
    MORE likely some senator was vested in a biz that made the older
    materials.
>
    There ARE circumstances where 'natural fibers' CAN outperform
    plastics - esp at very low temperatures where the plastics become
    more brittle. However those circumstances are few. 'Natural fibers'
    also tend to hold MOISTURE - which is bad for HV electricity apps and
    can lead to mold/fungi problems.

 https://www.specialized.net/installation-equipment-supplies/cable-
installation/lacing-needles-twine/trueconect-44800nat-lacing-twine-9-ply-
waxed-poly-191-yd-spool.html
 I don't know what material was used in the '70s but today's lacing twine
is polyester.

   Polyesters can resist low temps better and don't
   absorb moisture. Nylon is 'fair' in those respects
   but maybe not quite as good.

I doubt any senator was a lacing twine mogul but ALS for civilian use goes
back to the '50s. Bureaucracies are reluctant to change anything. I wonder
what new controllers use? You'd probably have to prowl eBay to find Eagle
steppers now.

   First rule of bureaucracies - DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING because
   you can then be BLAMED for any new problems  :-)
   Bureaucracies are a weird collective psychological manifestation.
   I'm sure somebody HAS done a big study and write-up. This is
   why it takes bull personalities like Trump to break up the
   status-quo every so often.
   If Rome had survived, I'm sure the bcrats would still insist
   on foot-washing stations (with slaves) at the doors of all
   govt establishments  :-)

I don't know if the DOT regulations for commercial drivers were updated
but even in the '90s the regulations laid down in the '30s were still in
effect. If you followed them religiously you were locked into a 19 hour
cycle that played hell with circadian rhythms.

   LOTS of crashes because of that.
   USA, they DID make some revisions about 20 years ago
   limiting driving times. The truckers and employers
   did NOT like it. The tradition was to push through
   on strong coffee, sugar and amphetamines, get it there
   as fast and direct as possible. One of my first jobs
   was at a truck stop complex ... I know  :-)
   And DO stay away from the 55 year old hookers in
   hot pants !!!