Boeing flags 737 MAX glitch that may turn off auto pilot
NEW DELHI: Boeing has identified a software issue that could potentially lead to auto pilot disengaging during certain go-arounds (aborting landing to take off again and make a second attempt) on the B737 MAX when pilots change their planned altitude and path. India has about 100 of these aircraft between Air India Express and Akasa.Aviation insiders say this is not a safety scare and Boeing has issued an advisory to pilots regarding what to do in the rare event of a B737 MAX going around and then the altitude window being changed from what is in the system for that particular sector.A Boeing spokesperson said: “Last month, we informed all 737 operators about a software issue where pilots may not have access to automated flight guidance during a specific landing scenario. We shared information with operators that reinforced existing pilot procedures for safely handling such cases. Our engineers are working on a software update to permanently address the issue.”A spokesperson for Akasa said: “We are closely coordinating with Boeing and can confirm there is no impact to safety… Our aircraft continue to operate safely in accordance with established procedures and applicable regulatory requirements.”
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AI Express has over 50 of these planes.US Federal Aviation Admi-nistration has said in a statem-ent that it will “convene a corrective action review board and take immediate action if it identifies a safety concern”.What was to be Boeing’s answer to rival Airbus’s best-selling A320 new engine option which boasts lower fuel burns, the B737 MAX came under intense scrutiny soon after it entered commercial passenger service in May 2017. Two back-to-back MAX crashes within five months – Lion Air in Oct 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines in March 2019 – that left 346 people dead led to the aircraft being grounded globally in March 2019. After Boeing made some crucial changes, the aircraft was allowed to fly again in Dec 2020.
