U.S. regulators said Friday a software glitch that some industry officials worried could overwork Boeing 737 MAX pilots during a certain landing scenario doesn’t pose a safety risk, easing a potential obstacle to certification of the MAX 10.
The FAA panel, composed of various internal experts, determined that “because pilots retain full control of the aircraft, the indications to the flight crew are clear and unambiguous,” the agency said Friday. Boeing didn’t immediately comment.
The problem had threatened to complicate certification of Boeing’s longest and final variant of its bestselling 737, the MAX 10. The FAA also said Friday that Boeing would issue a bulletin to airlines explaining how to recognize and respond to the problem should it occur during flight.
Major U.S. carriers including Southwest and United told Boeing they didn’t want new MAX jets loaded with the flawed software. Allegiant Air is operating 737 MAX jets with the flawed software, but the airline said the glitch didn’t apply to landing approaches it flies. After the Journal reported about the MAX software issue, Boeing’s stock fell about 7%. FAA chief Bryan Bedford also said the agency would delay the MAX 10 certification while it determined whether the problem posed a safety issue.
Source: Wall Street Journal US Business · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing