Boeing halts flights test for 737 Max

Date:

Trending

US aviation authorities will defend their certification methods for new planes before lawmakers Wednesday, two weeks after grounding the Boeing 737 MAX over two deadly crashes in less than five months.

- Advertisement -

Boeing has flown test flights of its 737 MAX to evaluate a fix for the system targeted as a potential cause of the crashes, two sources familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

The aviation giant, which has been under fire and has seen its flagship narrow-body planes grounded since March 13, tested the system upgrade on Monday, two days after pilots from American and Southwest Airlines did simulation flights in Renton, Washington, the sources said.

- Advertisement -

Boeing needs authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before the MAX can return to service. But the company still has not submitted its proposed software patch to the FAA, a government source told AFP.

The aircraft was grounded following two deadly accidents involving Ethiopian Airlines earlier this month and Lion Air in October that together killed 346 people.

A Senate Commerce Committee panel will hold a hearing Wednesday to question FAA Acting Administration Daniel Elwell and Transportation Department Inspector General Calvin Scovel.

The session is set to be followed by a second hearing at a later date with Boeing, airline pilots and other stakeholders.

The officials are expected to face questions from lawmakers on the FAA’s certification of the 737 MAX — and whether regulators have become too cozy with the company and fast-tracked some approvals.

Engineers have been focusing on problems with the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), a stall prevention system designed to point the nose of the 737 MAX 8 downward if it is in danger of stalling, or losing lift.

The system has been criticized since it can malfunction and make it difficult for pilots to control the aircraft. Both of the recent crashes occurred moments after takeoff.

Boeing said it will be “carefully monitoring” the aviation officials’ testimony, adding that “safety is our top priority.” The FAA was “directly involved in the system safety review of the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS),” Elwell will tell lawmakers, according to prepared remarks seen by AFP.

“FAA engineers and flight test pilots were involved in the MCAS operational evaluation flight test,” the remarks read.

“The certification process was detailed and thorough, but, as is the case with newly certified products, time yields more data to be applied for continued analysis and improvement.”

However, Elwell is set to acknowledge that with increasingly complex systems, “our oversight approach needs to evolve to ensure that the FAA remains the global leader in achieving aviation safety.” The FAA is expected to defend its practices, including the delegation of key testing and certification to Boeing in light of tight government budgets, said Scott Hamilton, an aviation expert with Leeham Company.

Lawmakers could push the FAA to pledge rigorous oversight before allowing the 737 MAX to return to service.

Elwell was set to concur, saying authorities will only allow the aircraft to fly again “when the FAA’s analysis of the facts and technical data indicate that it is appropriate.”

Preliminary results in the investigation into October’s Lion Air crash in Indonesia indicate a single “angle of attack” sensor, which feeds data to the MCAS, malfunctioned but continued transmitting data to the plane’s flight systems, including the MCAS.

Among the changes to the system, the MCAS would automatically be disabled in cases where there is disagreement between two sensors, the sources told AFP. Boeing also intends to make standard on planes a “disagree light,” to signal when the MCAS malfunctions. The feature currently is only available to airlines for an additional charge.

“Frankly, I think Congress itself should be testifying on its decades of underfunding the FAA to do its job of overseeing the aerospace industry (as well as modernizing Air Traffic Control),” said Hamilton. “But it won’t take this responsibility.” Scovel likely will be asked what he has learned so far in the Transportation Department’s investigation into the FAA certification of the 737 MAX, which was requested by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

Chao sought the audit to develop “an objective and detailed factual history” of the process of certifying the aircraft,” she said in a memo to Scovel last week.

The MCAS was installed in the MAX because the engines are heavier than in the previous version of the 737.

THE SNAPSHOTS

Sign up to get quick snaps of everyday happening, directly in your inbox.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

- Advertisement -

Support our independent journalism PayPal (Outside India) For PayU (For Indian Readers).

Krishna Mali
Krishna Mali
Founder & Group Editor of TechGraph.

More Latest Stories

More Articles

00:01:49

Trump Claims U.S. Trade Threat Helped Defuse India-Pakistan Ceasefire

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration played a key role in easing tensions between India and Pakistan by making future trade...

Operation Sindoor: India, Pakistan Agree to Ceasefire After High-Level Military Talks

India and Pakistan agreed on Saturday to halt all military activities across land, air, and sea, marking a significant pause in rising tensions over recent weeks. The decision came after a direct call between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) earlier in the...

India Says Pakistan Attempted Large-Scale Drone Incursions, Used Civilian Flights as Cover

India on Friday accused Pakistan of attempting large-scale drone incursions across the western border...

The Future of B2B Commerce: E-commerce Platforms and Beyond

The way companies buy items and sell services has changed a lot from the...

Why Crypto Traders Are Flocking to Cap-tex Now

A recent surge in cryptocurrency prices, driven by global economic shifts and high-profile endorsements,...

How AI-Powered Online Platforms Are Revolutionizing Life Insurance Recommendations

Anyone with a child, a spouse, a life partner, or a parent as a...

From Arcade to Adventure – The Evolving Face of Entertainment and Why It Counts

Entertainment has always been a reflection of the shifting expectations of society. Earlier, people...

How Technology Helps Combat Various Viruses and Diseases

Technology has transformed the ways we approach vaccines, particularly for the flu. One noteworthy...

No OTPs, No Hassles: The Rise of Passwordless Digital Payments

India is pacing toward a passwordless future in the digital payments ecosystem. Technologically, it’s a big win, with faster checkouts, seamless user experiences, and...

12 Eye-Popping Hacks to Make Your Next Business Presentation Sparkle

Business presentations are often necessary to gain new clients and showcase what it is...

The Long-Term Power of Investing: Selecting Undervalued Industries

Investing can seem overwhelming, especially for beginners, as the numerous options and strategies available...

How a Money Back Policy Can Be a Smart Financial Choice?

Creating financial security involves strategic planning because investment decisions form one of the essential...

Meta Legal Head Offloads Shares worth $577K

Meta Platforms Inc.’s (NASDAQ: META) Chief Legal Officer, Jennifer Newstead, has sold 921 shares,...

Shell Executive Robin Mooldijk Sells €1.69 Mn in Shares

Shell plc’s Projects & Technology Director, Robin Mooldijk, has offloaded 50,000 shares in the company, amounting to approximately €1.69 million. According to the filing, the...

HR Chief Amy Coleman Reports Over 46,000 Microsoft Shares in SEC Filing

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Chief Human Resources Officer, Amy Coleman, has reported her stock holdings in a recent regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to the Form 3 filing, "Coleman owns 46,023 shares of Microsoft common stock, along with 18,100 restricted...

BGC Group raises $700 Mn in bond sale to refinance debt

BGC Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BGC) has finalized a $700 million private offering of senior...

Alphabet Legal Chief John Kent Walker to Sell $2Mn in Shares via Morgan Stanley

Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Chief Legal Officer, John Kent Walker Jr., has filed to...
00:02:53

Canada, Australia Partner to Build $6 Bn Arctic Radar System

In a bid to enhance Arctic and national security, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney...

Meta Chief Legal Officer Jennifer Newstead Offloads Shares as Part of Trading Plan

According to regulatory filings, Jennifer Newstead, Chief Legal Officer at Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:...

Nvidia Director Aarti Shah to Sell Shares Worth $2.37 Mn

Aarti S. Shah, a director at NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA), has filed a notice...

Alphabet Board Member Frances Arnold Increases Stake Following Dividend Allocation

According to a recent regulatory filing, Frances Arnold, a board member at Alphabet Inc.,...

Layer PR Wins SME News UK Awards, Expands to Bengaluru

Layer PR, a global public relations firm owned by TechGraph, has secured two major...

Google Acquires Wiz for $32 Billion in All-Cash Deal

Google LLC, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG, GOOGL) has signed a deal...

The Future of Digital Payments and Cybersecurity Challenges

The future of digital payments is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, changes in...

How a Money Back Policy Can Be a Smart Financial Choice?

Creating financial security involves strategic planning because investment decisions form one of the essential...

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Using Fonts in Your Design Projects

Fonts play a crucial role in every design project, from branding and web design...

Predictive Analytics: The Key to Supply Chain Resilience

In today’s interconnected global economy, supply chains are the lifeblood of businesses, weaving intricate...

Software and Technology Changing the Industry

The advent of software and technological advancements has been a game-changer across various industries....

Jensen Huang Offloads $49.8Mn in Nvidia Shares

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) CEO and President Jen-Hsun Huang has disclosed the sale of 431,611...

Meta Legal Head Offloads Shares worth $577K

Meta Platforms Inc.’s (NASDAQ: META) Chief Legal Officer, Jennifer Newstead, has sold 921 shares,...

Google Acquires Wiz for $32 Billion in All-Cash Deal

Google LLC, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG, GOOGL) has signed a deal...

The Sustainability Imperative: How IT Distribution Is Driving Green Tech Adoption

In today's day and time sustainability is no longer just a corporate commitment, it...

The Future of Digital Payments and Cybersecurity Challenges

The future of digital payments is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, changes in...