Boeing now saying pilots need simulator training for 737 Max
Boeing has uncovered another potential design flaw with the 737 Max
Hundreds of 737 Max jets are sitting, grounded, as Boeing awaits approval from aviation regulators for the troubled plane to return to flight. But now, the company has discovered yet another potential hurdle. The plane was grounded worldwide in March after two crashes that killed 346 people. The company determined a software fix was likely to correct the issue with the automatic safety feature that caused the crashes. However, as part of a December audit of the plane's safety ordered by the US Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing found "previously unreported concerns" with wiring in the 737 Max, according to a report earlier Sunday from the New York Times. The company informed the FAA last month that it is looking into whether two sections of wiring that control the tail of the plane are too close together and could cause a short circuit and potentially a crash, if pilots did not react appropriately - the Times reported, citing a senior Boeing engineer and three people familiar with the matter. A Boeing spokesperson confirmed the report to CNN Business on Sunday, saying the issue was identified as part of a "rigorous process" to ensure the plane's safety.
RENTON, Wash. - Boeing now says pilots should be trained in a flight simulator before they carry passengers on the 737 Max airliner.
That's a change in the company's long-held position that computer-based training alone would be adequate. The plane has been grounded worldwide since two crashes that killed 346 people.
A woman whose daughter died in a Max crash and a lawmaker whose committee is investigating Boeing both said Boeing's change of mind was welcome but overdue.
The Federal Aviation Administration plans to run more tests in simulators to see how airline pilots respond to emergencies before deciding on training requirements.