FAA Formally Un-Grounds Boeing 737 MAX With New Airworthiness Directive

[TerrexLee]

As expected, the Federal Aviation Administration will re-certify the Boeing 737 MAX for commercial operations, with a new airworthiness directive. In comments made in a video, FAA administrator Steve Dickson said he was “never driven by a timeline, but rather followed a methodical, deliberate safety process.”


After being grounded for 20 months, the Boeing 737 MAX is once again cleared to fly passengers in the United States. In a highly anticipated move, the Federal Aviation Administration has rescinded the emergency order of prohibition and issued a new airworthiness directive for the troubled airframe, allowing airlines to re-integrate it into fleets once the required modifications are completed.

Boeing 737 MAX Re-Clearance “Followed a Methodical, Deliberate Safety Process”

In a short video by FAA administrator Steve Dickson, the head of the agency said that the review followed a “methodical, deliberate safety process” to determine how it could be returned to service.


“Shortly after I became FAA administrator, I pledged to fly the Boeing 737 MAX, and promised that I wouldn’t unground it until I was 100 percent comfortable the aircraft was safe,” Dickson said in the video. “Based on all the activities we’ve undertaken in the past 20 months, and my personal experience flying the aircraft, I can tell you now that I’m 100 percent comfortable with my family flying on it.”



In the rescission of the grounding order, Dickson notes that “the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines accidents involved a common cause,” previously identified as the MCAS system. In August, the FAA issued a proposed rule to make corrections to the system, including updating computer systems.


“Together, the Airworthiness Directive and the design approval address the unsafe condition as to the existing U.S.-registered fleet of Boeing Company Model 737-8 and 737-9 airplanes and as to any Model 737-8 and 737-9 airplanes for which The Boeing Company hereafter seeks airworthiness certificates and export certificates of airworthiness,” the order reads. “It is now practicable for the FAA to give preference to the proceedings that the FAA began in response to the emergency.”


Although the 737 MAX is cleared for duty, it doesn’t mean that airlines will immediately re-introduce the aircraft to their fleets. The airframes must meet the requirements of the Airworthiness Directive, which will require some time.

Airlines Respond Favorably to 737 MAX Re-Clearance

America’s three 737 MAX operators – American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines – were quick to issue praise for the order and announce their plan to start flying the aircraft again. Southwest Airlines, which has the biggest fleet of 737 MAX airframes, said they will ensure their pilots are re-trained on the aircraft and its changes.

“Every active Southwest Pilot will complete additional FAA-required flight training in one of our nine 737 MAX simulators and will complete additional FAA-required computer-based training covering MAX procedures,” Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly said in a statement. “Southwest will also require active Pilots to re-take our original 737 MAX 8 computer-based differences training as a refresher to complement the FAA-required training. Additionally, Southwest will conduct multiple readiness flights on each of our 34 MAX aircraft and complete thousands of hours of work, inspections, and the software updates before any of our Customers board a Southwest 737 MAX.”

On LinkedIn, United president Scott Kirby announced that the airline will not only require more simulator training for pilots, but will also complete their own test flights to ensure the aircraft are ready to carry passengers again. The Chicago-based carrier expects to re-integrate the 737 MAX into their operations in the first quarter of 2021.

More at https://www.flyertalk.com/articles/faa-formally-un-grounds-boeing-737-max-with-new-airworthiness-directive.html

 

[syed putra]

So you have two angle of attack sensors. If one is kaputs, how will the computer know which reading is correct?

 

[TerrexLee]

toss a coin simple.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

United Airlines to resume Boeing 737 MAX flights in February
FILE PHOTO: United Airlines planes, including a Boeing 737 MAX 9 model, are pictured at George Bus
United Airlines planes, including a Boeing 737 MAX 9 model, are pictured at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on Mar 18, 2019. (File photo: REUTERS/Loren Elliott)
19 Dec 2020 08:23AM
(Updated: 19 Dec 2020 08:30AM)
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NEW YORK: United Airlines became the latest carrier to announce a timeframe to fly the Boeing 737 MAX again, saying Friday (Dec 18) the jet would resume flights in February.

The plane, which was out of service for 20 months following two fatal crashes, will re-enter United's schedule on Feb 11, with service from Denver and Houston.

The move comes on the heels of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) November decision to permit the jet to fly again following upgrades to its software and new protocols on pilot training.

United said there was still additional work to do on its jets before they can return to service with the carrier. The two 737 MAX crashes, in Ethiopia and Indonesia, claimed 346 lives and led to its worldwide grounding.

"Nothing is more important to United than the safety of our customers and employees," a United spokesman said.

"United's MAX fleet won't return to service until we have completed more than 1,000 hours of work on every aircraft, including FAA-mandated changes to the flight software, additional pilot training, multiple test flights and meticulous technical analysis to ensure the planes are ready to fly."

United said it would be "fully transparent" with customers and will rebook or refund customers who don't want to fly on the aircraft.

The MAX returned to commercial service on Dec 9 following an uneventful flight on low-cost Brazilian carrier Gol.

In the United States, American Airlines is scheduled to resume flights on the MAX later this month.

Source: AFP/rw

 

[syed putra]

Ok say two engines kaputs. Can this unbalanced plane glide like the others?

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Boeing 'inappropriately coached' test pilots in 737 MAX testing, report finds
Posted 7h
a blue and white Boeing 737 Max jet in the sky
The Boeing 737 MAX has recently begun flying again after being cleared by the US aviation agency.(AP: Elaine Thompson, File)
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Boeing officials "inappropriately coached" test pilots during recertification efforts after two fatal 737 MAX crashes killed 346 people, according to a lengthy new US congressional report.

Key points:
A whistleblower said Boeing representatives gave advice to test pilots in flight simulations
The report accuses Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration of trying to cover up important information
The committee's chair said the report highlighted failed leadership and lack of oversight in the aviation agency
The report from the Senate Commerce Committee raised questions about whether this year's testing of a key safety system known as MCAS — tied to both fatal crashes — was contrary to proper protocol.

The committee concluded Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing officials "had established a pre-determined outcome to reaffirm a long-held human factor assumption related to pilot reaction time".

"It appears, in this instance, FAA and Boeing were attempting to cover up important information that may have contributed to the 737 MAX tragedies," the report said.

The report cited a whistleblower who alleged Boeing officials encouraged test pilots to "remember, get right on that pickle switch" prior to the exercise that resulted in pilot reaction in approximately four seconds, while another pilot in a separate test reacted in approximately 16 seconds.

The account was corroborated during an FAA staff interview, the committee added.

Numerous reports have found Boeing failed to adequately consider how pilots respond to cockpit emergencies in its development of the 737 MAX.

Boeing said it takes "seriously the committee's findings and will continue to review the report in full".

An aerial photo shows the Boeing factory with planes strewn across its runways with the Seattle skyline behind it.
The planes were grounded for about two years after the deadly crashes.(Reuters: Lindsey Wasson)
In a statement, the FAA said the report "contains a number of unsubstantiated allegations" and defended its review of the MAX, calling it thorough and deliberate.

The agency added it was "confident that the safety issues that played a role in the tragic [737 MAX] accidents involving Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 have been addressed through the design changes required and independently approved by the FAA and its partners."

Senator says report highlights 'failed leadership'
Senate Commerce Committee chairman, Republican Roger Wicker, said the report "details a number of significant examples of lapses in aviation safety oversight and failed leadership in the FAA."

Following a lengthy review of Boeing changes, the FAA last month approved the plane to fly again if airlines update a key flight-control system and make other changes.

The Senate report, however, criticized a key part of the FAA review. It said that Boeing "inappropriately influenced" FAA testing of pilot-reaction time to a nose-down pitch of the plane.

The committee also said "multiple independent whistleblowers contacted the committee to allege FAA senior management was complicit in determining the 737 MAX training certification level prior to any evaluation."

Metal scraps, that appear to be part of the Ethiopia Airlines propeller machinery, lie on the ground
There were 157 people killed in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash.(AP: Mulugeta Ayene)
Boeing resisted requiring simulator training for pilots before operating the 737 MAX but reversed course in January.

Boeing still faces an ongoing criminal probe into the MAX.

The committee said its review was "constrained due to the continued criminal investigation"

Flights resumed in Brazil last month after the FAA review. The first US 737 MAX commercial flight with paying passengers is set for December 29.

Last month, the Senate committee unanimously a bill to reform how FAA certifies new airplanes and grant new protections for whistleblowers, among other reforms, while the US House of Representatives unanimously passed a similar bill.

Wires/ABC