March 12, 2019, 06:48 / Business

Boeing announces 737 Max software update

Boeing will update the software of the 737 Max airliners. this She announced against the background of a temporary ban on the operation of this model by the authorities of China, Indonesia and Vietnam after the Boeing 737 Max 8 plane crash in Ethiopia. The development of updates must be completed no later than April, this is the requirement of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The new Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed on March 10 shortly after takeoff. There were 157 people on board, all of them died. In October 2018, the same Lion Air plane crashed into the Java Sea 13 minutes after takeoff. Then the plane crash claimed the lives of 189 people.

Development of new software for the Boeing 737 Max began shortly after the first plane crash, Reuters reported, citing its sources in November 2018. It was then assumed that the update would include the ability to block the automatic operation of the system, which could lead to a disaster over the Java Sea. Previously, the company was reproached for not updating instructions for pilots of the 737 Max 8 and 9 about the appearance in these machines of an automatic system to prevent the aircraft from stalling into a tailspin. Development of the updates was expected to take 6-8 weeks, but Boeing's announcement indicates that experts have been working on it for the last several months.

The update will affect maneuvering characteristics, pilot displays, response to erroneous data on the angle of attack and stabilizer operation, as well as operating and crew training manuals. Boeing is working with the FAA to develop the updates. The company emphasizes that the regulator does not impose additional requirements.