Investigators from the United States Senate Committee in charge of the Boeing 737 MAX problem aircraft file claim that the aircraft manufacturer and regulator FAA instructed pilots against the rules prior to simulator tests. They did this to be sure of a certain outcome and to get the aircraft back in the air as quickly as possible, according to various media.
The Senate Committee comes to that conclusion after interviews with whistleblowers and testimony from FAA members. The tests with the simulator had to show how quickly pilots would react to software problems. The test pilots were allegedly “improperly coached” by Boeing and the FAA.
The instructions would also be part of a deliberate attempt to conceal important information about the possible causes of the two crashes with the plane. A Lion Air 737 MAX crashed in October 2018 and an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft in March 2019. A total of 346 occupants were killed.
After the second accident, flights with the aircraft were banned worldwide. It later turned out that the disasters were caused by a failing safety system, which pushed the nose of the aircraft down. That defect has been resolved with a software update.
In response to the Senate report, the FAA says it contains a number of “unsubstantiated allegations.” Boeing says it will study the report “seriously”.
In November, the FAA gave the green light for the resumption of flights with the 737 MAX. The approval of the European regulator EASA will probably follow in January. Before the aircraft are allowed to take to the air again, pilots still have to undergo extra training and manuals have to be adjusted.
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