Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

Cautionary Conversation: Flying on Empty

Sep 9, 2022

Join mathematician and comedian Matt Parker, known for his engaging YouTube presentations and the book 'Humble Pi,' as he dives into the shocking incident of Air Canada Flight 143. Discover how a unit conversion error led to a near-fatal fuel miscalculation. Parker explores other high-stakes miscalculations in aviation, like the Mars Climate Orbiter disaster, shedding light on the severe consequences of measurement mistakes. The episode highlights the crucial role of clear communication and mathematical precision in preventing calamities.

32:06

Creator website

Episode guests

Matt Parker

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

3min

The Cost of Conversion Errors

8min

The Misadventures of the Vasa: A Tale of Flawed Measurements

2min

The Miscalculation Crisis of Air Canada Flight 143

5min

Communication Failures in Aviation Safety

14min

Upcoming Projects and Team Acknowledgments

3min

A meter is longer than a yard. An ounce is heavier than a gram. We harmlessly mix them up sometimes, but a "unit conversion error" when you're filling up the fuel tanks of an airliner can be fatal. Which is exactly what happened to Air Canada Flight 143.

Tim Harford talks to mathematician and comedian Matt Parker about how the aircraft came to take off without the proper fuel load, how no one noticed until it was too late, and why such errors give us an insight into just how important maths is to keeping our complex world working as it should.

For more "unit conversion errors" check out Matt's book Humble Pi.

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