The Federal Aviation Administration will convene a safety review on Friday of a software issue affecting Boeing 737 MAX airplanes. The issue could prevent pilots from accessing automated flight guidance during a specific landing scenario. Major US airlines have indicated they will not accept new aircraft equipped with the affected software version.
The FAA's review and airlines' rejection of affected aircraft could impact Boeing's production and delivery schedules, particularly for the new MAX 7 and MAX 10 variants, and potentially influence future software development and certification processes for commercial aircraft.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is scheduled to convene a Corrective Action Review Board on Friday to assess a software issue impacting Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The problem, affecting versions 14 and 14.1 of the flight management computer software, could lead to the disengagement of the aircraft's vertical navigation (VNAV) function during specific landing scenarios when the autopilot is engaged and a go-around is initiated.
Major U.S. airlines, including Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, have informed Boeing that they will not accept new aircraft equipped with the affected software versions, opting instead for earlier iterations. Boeing has stated that the condition does not pose an immediate safety concern and is working on a permanent software correction and updated guidance for flight crews, aiming to accelerate timelines for both.
The FAA's review comes as Boeing awaits certification for its 737 MAX 10 variant. The agency has indicated it is delaying the certification of the MAX 10 until its analysis of the software issue is complete. The FAA stated it will take immediate action if the review identifies a safety concern.
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