Boeing said it reported a software issue on some 737 Max planes last month that could affect some landing procedures, as the manufacturer seeks federal approval for the fourth and final model of its best-selling plane family.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Saturday it was evaluating the problem and “will take immediate action if it identifies a safety issue” and would review Boeing’s proposed solution.
Boeing said the problem could arise after a missed approach when pilots change a pre-programmed flight path, and pilots must take additional steps to use automated tools on subsequent approaches.
“We have shared information with operators who have strengthened existing pilot procedures to safely handle such cases. Our engineers are working on a software update to permanently resolve the issue,” Boeing said. The Wall Street Journal had already reported on the problem.
The company said pilots are trained to land without an automated system. “We are working directly with airlines to formalize a procedure that will allow pilots to re-enable automated vertical navigation should this situation arise,” Boeing said.
U.S. airlines told CNBC they do not have Max 8 and Max 9 planes with the updated software linked to this issue in their fleets. Airlines can restore some Max software to the old version.
Fully Boeing 737 Max carrier Southwest Airlines said it was “aware of the issue and has been in contact with Boeing and the FAA.”
He adds that “no part of our fleet is equipped with the U.14 version, including new deliveries of Max 8 aircraft.” United Airlines also said it would not accept any deliveries of Max aircraft with the new software.
However, questions remain about the other two models, the Max 7 and the Max 10. The Federal Aviation Administration certified the Max 7, the smallest of the Max family, in early August with the most recent software installed. It was not immediately clear whether the plane could be delivered or flown with an older version of the software.
Additionally, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told investors earlier this month that he expected the FAA to obtain certification of the Max 10 “very soon.”
The problem comes after years of delays for Boeing’s Max planes following safety and manufacturing crises, including the two fatal crashes of the Max 8 plane in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people. A faulty flight control software system – which has since been updated – was implicated in both crashes.
According to Cirium, 2,430 Max aircraft are currently in service worldwide.
Gn bussni
