FAA finds Boeing 737 Max software glitch does not pose safety concern
Boeing will issue a bulletin informing pilots about the issue and how they should respond.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has determined that a software problem involving the Boeing 737 Max does not pose a safety concern.
On 2 October, the agency convened a Corrective Action Review Board (CARB), made up of FAA safety experts, to evaluate the issue and determine whether any action was necessary.
The software glitch involves a flight-management software developed by GE Aerospace. An update intended to fix a “known bug” in the aircraft’s vertical navigation system “unexpectedly introduced a new bug,” which in some cases can lead to the “absence of vertical navigation guidance”, FAA administrator Bryan Bedford said on 28 September.
Bedford even said the agency was delaying certification of the 737 Max 10 until it evaluated the issue.
But on 2 October, the FAA says the CARB concluded that the software issue does not pose a safety risk. The Wall Street Journal reported the news earlier on 2 October.
“Following a thorough review, a panel of FAA safety experts on Friday determined a software issue in certain Boeing 737 MAX flight computers is not a safety concern,” the agency says.
According to the FAA, the review board reached its determination “because pilots retain full control of the aircraft and the indications to the flight crew are clear and unambiguous”.
The FAA says it will revisit the matter if new information emerges.
In the meantime, Boeing will issue a bulletin to airlines outlining how pilots can identify and respond to the issue if it occurs. The FAA also plans to issue a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerting US airlines and foreign regulators of Boeing’s bulletin.
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