The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday it had detected a new software problem on some Boeing The 737 Max aircraft does not pose a flight safety issue.
The move paves the way for certification of the latest model of the company’s best-selling aircraft family, the 737 Max 10, just as Boeing seeks to sell and deliver more planes after years of safety and manufacturing crises.
Boeing reported a software issue last month, which could affect some landing procedures, and the FAA said Monday it was reviewing it to determine whether it posed a flight safety issue.
“After a thorough review, a panel of FAA safety experts determined Friday that a software problem in certain Boeing 737 MAX flight computers did not constitute a safety issue,” the FAA said. “The FAA Corrective Action Review Board made this decision because the pilots maintain full control of the aircraft and the guidance to the flight crew is clear and unambiguous.”
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.
The FAA announced Friday that it would issue a special bulletin to airlines on how to recognize and respond to the problem if it arises.
The agency convened a review panel Friday to evaluate the issue. Participants included FAA experts in airframes, flight controls, propulsion, flight testing and others.
“As with any situation, the FAA will consider appropriate action if it receives new information regarding this issue,” the agency said.
U.S. airlines said they were not affected by the problem since they could revert to older versions of the software, but the problem raised questions about certification of the Boeing 737 Max 10, which Boeing and the airlines planned to obtain by early fall.
The Max 10 is the largest in the aircraft family and would be the last in the Max line to gain government certification to fly. The FAA approved the Max 7, the smallest of the Max family, in August.
General managers of 737 clients Max 10, Alaska Airlines and Ryanair, earlier this week brushed aside concerns over delays in certification of the plane.
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