Boeing has submitted a request to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for an exemption that would allow its new model of the 737 Max airliner to bypass a safety standard aimed at preventing engine housing overheating. While Boeing claims to be working on a long-term solution to address this hazard, critics are concerned about relying on pilots’ memory to limit the use of the anti-icing system. This article explores the potential risks associated with the exemption request and the importance of prioritizing safety over expedited aircraft deliveries.
The FAA had previously acknowledged the engine housing overheating issue on the current Max planes and urged pilots to exercise caution by restricting the use of the anti-icing system in specific conditions. Failing to do so could result in the engine housing breaking off during flight, posing a significant risk to the aircraft and its passengers. In 2018, a Southwest Airlines flight experienced rapid decompression after an engine fan blade broke on an older 737, causing a piece of loose engine housing to shatter a window and tragically result in a passenger fatality.
Boeing’s exemption request aims to circumvent safety standards related to engine inlets and the anti-ice system until May 2026. The company argues that the exemption is vital to enable the delivery of the new, smaller Max 7 to airlines. While Boeing assures the FAA that a long-term solution is in development and will undergo thorough testing, critics argue that depending on pilots’ memory to limit the use of the anti-ice system is an inadequate approach to aircraft safety.
Critics’ Concerns
Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for American Airlines pilots, expressed his concerns about relying on human memory and the potential risks involved. Tajer emphasized that safety standards should not be compromised by exemptions and accommodations that necessitate the pilot’s recollection. Meeting safety objectives should be prioritized with more reliable and foolproof measures, according to Tajer.
Max Series Grounding and Recent Manufacturing Flaws
The Max 8 and Max 9 aircraft, both part of the 737 Max series, have been instructed by the FAA to limit the use of the anti-icing system to five minutes during dry conditions. This directive aims to prevent engine inlets from overheating and subsequent engine housing breakage. It is important to note that the overheating problem only affects the Max series due to the carbon composite materials used in their engine inlets.
Following the tragedies involving two Max planes in 2018 and 2019, which claimed the lives of 346 people, all Max jets were grounded worldwide for nearly two years. Boeing was required to make revisions to the automated flight-control system that had been functioning based on inaccurate sensor readings. In addition to these issues, Boeing recently notified airlines about possible loose bolts in the rudder-control system, further disrupting Max deliveries.
Ensuring Safety
Safety should always remain the top priority in the aviation industry. With the history of incidents involving the 737 Max series, it is crucial that regulators carefully assess Boeing’s exemption request. Depending on pilots’ memory to mitigate potential hazards is a questionable approach. It is imperative that a comprehensive and foolproof long-term solution be developed, tested thoroughly, and reviewed by the FAA before being implemented.
Boeing’s request to exempt its new model of the 737 Max airliner from a safety standard designed to prevent engine housing overheating has raised serious concerns among critics and industry experts. While the company alleges it is working on a long-term solution, the reliance on pilot memory to limit the use of the anti-icing system is seen as an inadequate approach to ensuring safety. The FAA must carefully evaluate the risks before granting any exemptions, with the aim of prioritizing passenger safety over expedited aircraft deliveries.
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