Software Changes
Boeing and the FAA announced changes late Monday to the plane’s anti-stall software and faulty sensor readings linked to the Lion Air accident.
The updates are aimed at preventing a malfunctioning sensor like the one on the Lion Air jet from activating the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System and pushing down a plane’s nose when it’s not needed.
The enhancements, to be rolled out in the coming weeks, limit the number of times the system kicks in and the magnitude of force it exerts. Boeing plans to use inputs from two sensors that measure a plane’s profile against oncoming wind, instead of relying on a single one, to assess the threat of an aerodynamic stall.
The manufacturer also plans to make standard on pilot displays an indicator showing when the two sensors have conflicting data.
Trump Tweet
Despite FAA support, the 737 Max drew criticism in the U.S. from the White House to airline unions.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, and Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican, called for the plane to be grounded. President Donald Trump weighed into the controversy, saying just minutes after the U.K. restrictions that “airplanes are becoming far too complex to fly.”
The flight attendants’ union at American Airlines called on Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker to “strongly consider” grounding the company’s fleet of 24 Max 8 planes.
This article provided by Bloomberg News.