Boeing 737 Max to get new warning light: industry source
[NEW YORK] Boeing's 737 Max aircraft will be outfitted with a warning light for malfunctions in the anti-stall system suspected in October's fatal crash in Indonesia, an industry source told AFP.
Known as a "disagree light," this safety feature, which had previously been optional, will become standard and is among the modifications the company will present to US authorities and clients in the coming days, the source said on condition of anonymity.
Neither the Lion Air aircraft which crashed in Indonesia, nor the Ethiopian Airlines jet which crashed this month, had such a warning light, the source said.
Modifications are in the final stages but Boeing wants to be certain this meets the expectations of regulators and customers, the person said.
Boeing offered no comment when contacted by Boeing.
The warning light will be activated if sensors transmit incorrect data to the plane's Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, which is intended to detect and correct stalls by reducing the aircraft's pitch.
Preliminary results in the investigation into October's Lion Air crash in Indonesia indicate an "angle of attack" sensor, which feeds data to the MCAS, had malfunctioned.
But despite malfunctioning, the sensor continued transmitting data to the plane's onboard electronics, including the MCAS.
That system takes control of the aircraft, pointing its nose downward, even if the pilot resists, so long as the system is not deactivated, something the Lion Air crew did not know.
US and Ethiopian authorities have said this month's crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 near Addis Ababa bore "similarities" to the Lion Air crash in October.
The Ethiopian Airlines crash left 157 people dead and led to the global grounding of 737 Max aircraft.
A criminal investigation is currently underway in the United States, with authorities reportedly scrutinizing how the plane received safety certification from US aviation regulators.
AFP
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Transport & Logistics
Hyundai Motor plans to add hybrids to US plant within current investment
Boeing cargo plane lands in Istanbul without front landing gear, no casualties
Uber shares tumble on surprise net loss, weak second-quarter forecast
New law increases control of ownership, management of critical transport firms in Singapore
Premium for big car COEs tops S$105,000 while that for mainstream cars hovers below S$95,000
Toyota sees 20% full-year profit decline after blockbuster Q4