New York: Boeing acknowledged Saturday it had to correct flaws in its 737 MAX flight simulator software used to train pilots, after two deadly crashes involving the aircraft that killed 346 people.
“Boeing has made corrections to the 737 MAX simulator software and has provided additional information to device operators to ensure that the simulator experience is representative across different flight conditions,” it said in a statement.
The company however, did not indicate when it first became aware of the problem, and whether it informed regulators. Its statement however, marked the first time Boeing acknowledged there was a design flaw in software linked to the 737 MAX, whose MCAS anti-stall software has been blamed in large part for the Ethiopian Airlines tragedy.
According to Boeing, the flight simulator software was incapable of reproducing certain flight conditions similar to those at the time of the Ethiopian Airlines crash in March or the Lion Air crash in October.
The company said the latest ‘changes will improve the simulation of force loads on the manual trim wheel’, a rarely used manual wheel to control the plane’s angle.
“Boeing is working closely with the device manufacturers and regulators on these changes and improvements, and to ensure that customer training is not disrupted,” the company added.
Southwest Airlines, a major 737 MAX customer with 34 aircraft in its fleet, told this agency it expected to receive the first simulator ‘late this year’. American Airlines, which has 24 of the aircraft, said it had ordered a 737 MAX simulator that will be delivered and put into operation in December. The 737 MAX planes have been grounded around the world, awaiting approval from US and international regulators before they can return to service.
Boeing earlier had said Thursday that it completed its software update on the 737 MAX. US airlines have targeted August as the date they expect to resume flying on the 737 MAX.
AFP