Boeing says safety review corroborated its findings on a 737 MAX sensor
Boeing Co said on Sunday that a Safety Review Board convened in late 2018 corroborated its prior conclusion that an angle-of-attack (AOA) sensor on the 737 MAX, which has suffered two fatal crashes, was not necessary for the safe operation of commercial aircraft.
Boeing Co said on Sunday that a Safety Review Board convened in late 2018 corroborated its prior conclusion that an angle-of-attack (AOA) sensor on the 737 MAX, which has suffered two fatal crashes, was not necessary for the safe operation of commercial aircraft.
In a statement following a series of negative news reports, Boeing provided greater detail on its recent decision to make the previously optional AOA Disagree alert a standard, standalone feature on the 737 MAX before the grounded jets return to service. The alert lights up when two sensors produce widely different readings.
The angle of attack measures the angle between the air flow and the wing and helps determine whether the plane is able to fly correctly. If the angle becomes too steep, the flow of air over the wing is disturbed, throwing the plane into an aerodynamic stall. That means it starts to fall instead of fly. Although the angle itself is fundamental to flight, the industry has debated for years whether the information should be included in crowded cockpit displays because it is directly related to airspeed, which pilots already watch closely.
TRENDING NOW
The debate over displays intensified when it emerged that Boeing had relied on a single angle-of-attack sensor to send information to a piece of anti-stall software that pushed the nose downward on Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, which both crashed minutes after take-off, killing a total of 346 people.
Neither the angle of attack indicator nor the AOA Disagree alert are necessary for the safe operation of the airplane, Boeing reiterated on Sunday. "They provide supplemental information only, and have never been considered safety features on commercial jet transport airplanes," Boeing said. Still, when the MAX returns to service, all MAX production aircraft will have an activated and operable AOA Disagree alert and an optional angle of attack indicator, Boeing said.
Customers with previously delivered MAX airplanes can activate the sensor. Boeing is also developing a software upgrade and training changes to the 737 MAX that must be approved by global regulators before the jets can fly again.
Boeing has yet to formally submit the upgrades to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration for approval but could do as early as this week once it completes a certification test flight. The FAA did not immediately comment on Boeing’s statement.
Get Latest Business News, Stock Market Updates and Videos; Check your tax outgo through Income Tax Calculator and save money through our Personal Finance coverage. Check Business Breaking News Live on Zee Business Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
06:24 am
Boeing starts production of Indian Army's Apache choppers
Boeing loses USD 149 million in Q2 as the plane maker is pushing ahead with production increases
Boeing supports Prime Minister Modi's ‘Make in India' initiative, says CEO David Calhoun 
Go First crisis will not change Indian aviation's growth trajectory: Boeing
Delhi-bound Lufthansa flight returns to Frankfurt due to technical glitches: report
