Federal regulators said Tuesday that Boeing is revising its instructions for how airlines inspect the 737 Max 9, forcing the plane to fly after a panel on one of the planes exploded in flight late last week. Manufacturers announced that their efforts to bring them back are delayed.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it would change the instructions issued Monday based on feedback, but did not provide further details. Instructions on how to comply with FAA regulations are often drafted and distributed by aircraft manufacturers with input from airlines and federal agencies to ensure consistent compliance by engineers. .
“Once we receive revised instructions from Boeing, we will conduct a thorough review,” the FAA said in a statement. “The return to service schedule for the Boeing 737-9 Max is determined by the safety of those flying the aircraft, not its speed.”
Boeing’s announcement that it was revising its instructions came after two airlines reported finding loose parts in areas of panels being inspected.
On Saturday, the FAA announced a mandatory inspection of an Alaska Airlines passenger plane after one of its panels broke after taking off from Portland, Oregon, the day before. Although no serious injuries were reported, the incident exposed passengers to strong winds and raised new concerns about Boeing’s quality control practices. The incident also forced airlines operating the Max 9 to cancel numerous flights.
The explosions are the latest in a series of setbacks for Boeing, which has struggled to regain public trust after two crashes of Boeing 737 Max 8 planes in 2018 and 2019 killed 346 people. It is the latest one.
It was not immediately clear how Boeing’s original plan fell short. The company announced Monday morning that it has shared instructions with airlines on how to inspect affected panels (also known as door plugs) that cover the spaces where exit doors would be installed. Hours later, the FAA appeared to confirm Boeing’s statement by announcing it had “approved a method to comply” with Saturday’s FAA order. Inspections focus on door plugs, door components, and fasteners.
Following those announcements, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, the two largest Max 9 operators, announced that they had discovered loose parts during preliminary inspections of the panels.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators said Monday that they had recovered a door plug from the Alaska Airlines plane, but that some of the related parts were still being searched.
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun addressed employees at a meeting Tuesday afternoon, pledging transparency in the company’s response.
“We’re going to admit our mistake and address this issue — number one –” he said at a Seattle-area factory where the company makes planes like the Max, according to excerpts provided by Boeing. “We will approach it with 100 percent and complete transparency every step of the way.”
Mr. Calhoun, who took over the company in January 2020 after his predecessor was fired during the Max crisis, said the company would work closely with federal law enforcement authorities. He also said he was overwhelmed when he first saw photos from the time of the incident. A teenage boy and his mother, both of whom were not seriously injured, were seated next to the panel that was blown away.
“I have children, I have grandchildren, and so do you,” he said. “This is important. Every detail matters.”
Pilots and flight attendants struggled to communicate with each other after a panel exploded during Friday’s flight carrying 171 passengers and six crew members. Safety committee chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference Monday night that crew members were surprised when the door separating the cockpit and cabin opened. As a result, pilots were exposed to strong winds and cabin noise, making it difficult to hear each other and communicate with air traffic control.
Homendy said the cockpit door was designed to open in the event of a rapid decompression event, but the crew was not informed of the plane’s ability to do so. She said Boeing plans to change its manual to notify flight crews.
The Alaska plane was at an altitude of 16,000 feet when the panel exploded, but the accident could have been even more catastrophic had it been at a higher altitude. If the plane had been cruising above 30,000 feet, passengers could have moved around the cabin and would have had less time to safely put on their oxygen masks and buckle their seatbelts.
Former Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen said in an interview that as a first step, the FAA will work closely with Boeing to develop a process to ensure all door plugs on the 737 Max 9 are properly secured. Stated.
The result will be detailed instructions telling airlines how to properly inspect doors, as well as diagrams of the pins and bolts that attach door plugs to airplanes. The directive will then be reviewed and approved by the FAA. The FAA said it expects airline employees to spend four to eight hours inspecting each plane.
Nolen, who also previously headed the FAA’s Aviation Safety Office, said after Friday’s panel explosion, some airlines had begun preliminary inspections while awaiting formal guidance from Boeing approved by regulators. Ta.
“My understanding is that we needed a detailed set of standards issued by Boeing and approved by the FAA.” “They have to review it and approve it.”
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