We have already written about problems with the MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System) system, which is designed to discreetly help pilots control Boeing 737 Max aircraft in manual mode (when the autopilot is turned off). Two plane crashes with hundreds of deaths around the world now leave hundreds of Boeings on the ground as the manufacturer rolls up its sleeves to get troubled planes back in the air. Last week, the company announced the availability of an update to MCAS that aims to fix the issue and is subject to approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
However, on April 1, the FAA released a statement that essentially says it will have to wait: βThe FAA hopes to receive the final package of software improvements from Boeing in the coming weeks for subsequent approval. More work is needed for Boeing to review the 737 Max's flight control system to ensure that the company has identified and properly addressed all relevant issues. Upon receipt of the update, the FAA will subject the final patch from Boeing to a rigorous safety review. The FAA will not approve the software for installation on aircraft until the agency is fully satisfied with the changes."
This is logical, because the rush to approve MCAS by the FAA, in the end, became, as it is believed, the cause of two accidents. In one of them, MCAS took into account data from only one of the aircraft's two angle-of-attack sensors and did not allow pilots to manually pull the car out of a spin. A software update being developed by Boeing addresses these issues and also introduces an additional pilot training program. The latter was allegedly omitted during the 737 Max certification process, based on the assumption that the new aircraft is controlled in exactly the same way as any other Boeing 737 (in many ways, this is what MCAS was created for).
#FAA statement on the @Boeing 737 MAX software update. pic.twitter.com/L66M4LcJEJ
β The FAA (@FAANews) April 1, 2019
This time, the FAA is trying to play it safe so as not to fall face down again. In a few weeks, management will receive the final version of the software from Boeing, and then subject it to a "thorough safety review." This should take longer than usual given the situation. All in all, the Boeing 737 Max won't be flying anytime soon, as the US certification process is only part of a bigger story. Other countries, most notably Canada and the European Union, will conduct independent investigations and take a more thorough approach to the certification process.
Source: 3dnews.ru