Originally Posted by
saturn
I agree on paper, having a common type 100-350 seats sounds brilliant.
Yet, don't know how you standardize two cockpits designed inherently different, with flight control laws and logic, electrical/hydraulic/pneumatic system components and logic, all different. Rockwell Collins vs Thales avionics displays & FMGCs, Auto-thrust vs throttle. And outside of the cockpit, the MX side has no commonality. You'd have to rip the entire brains and central nervous system out of the 220 and replace it with 1990s tech to accomplish what you seek. If SWA couldn't get the 737 classic the same type as the MAX, this will never happen.
It's not simple, but for the longevity of the airframe it wouldn't be a bad thing. Its dying the hair so it's not longer a red headed step child? Whats not to love about that?
I guess it's still a wait and see what Boeing does, and of course Boeing could ignore the 100-149 seat market given it's small share. Then Airbus doesnt have do anything either and the 220 is the redheaded stepchild... with hopefully a share of the inheritance.
As to the technology, it may be software that started in the 80s, or really with the Concorde, but it's constantly upgraded and updated from a massive amount of line experience. It's not bad.