| | | | |

MCAS At the forefront of Boeing 737 MAX Controversy

MCAS At the forefront of Boeing 737 MAX Controversy
Business, Technology, Internet and network concept. Business man working on the tablet of the future, select on the virtual display: Investigation


Everything that is essential to a plane’s operation should be included in pilot training. The pilot must know his tools backward and forward. What happens when that training is curtailed?

On March 19th, the US Department of Transportation announced that its inspector general will audit the 737 Max 8’s certification process. Some pilots say they know how to address problems with the 737 Max 8’s maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS) system. Pilots say the MCAS software system can (apparently) be disabled by hitting the trim switch on the control column. Difference training is required for pilots who fly the Max, but apparently (MCAS) explanations, operations, procedures related to the differences were left out of the manual. The flight manual of Boeing’s 737 Max 8 planes mentions MCAS computer system only once. If MCAS information was cut from the manual to prevent the MCAS from having to be included in 737 Max transition training, whoever cut it considered only that it would save 737 Max operators training costs, but not what it would cost in terms of human lives.

To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.

Similar Posts

  • | | | |

    United Airlines Flight Returns to San Francisco due to Fuel System Problem

    United Airlines flight UA-58 had to return and make an emergency landing in San Francisco, California, on September 21st.

    The Boeing 777-300 plane took off for Frankfurt, Germany, but had to turn back due to an issue with the fuel system.

    The plane landed back safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
  • | |

    US Airways Emergency Landing in Salt Lake

    What: US Airways Bombardier CRJ900 regional jet en route from Edmonton, Canada, to Phoenix, Arizona.
    Where: Diverted to Salt Lake City –Salt Lake City International Airport
    When: 10:20 am
    Who: 86 passengers and three crew members transferred to other flights to Phoenix
    Why: Diverted due to a crack in the front windshield.

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
  • | | | |

    Southwest Airlines Pressurization issue over Baltimore

    What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-500 en route from Baltimore,MD to Newark,NJ
    Where: Baltimore
    When: Jan 21st 2012
    Why: At 10,000 feet, the flight developed pressurization problems.

    Pilots returned to Baltimore over ATC’s suggestion that they continue. They made a safe landing.

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
  • | | | | | |

    Gol Transportes Aereos Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Bird Strikes

    Gol Transportes Aereos flight G3-9139 had to return and make an emergency landing in Goiana, Brazil, on January 28th.

    The Boeing 737-800 plane took off for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but had to return shortly afterwards after its left engine ingested multiple birds.

    The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.

    The airline arranged a replacement plane for the passengers.

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
  • | | | |

    273 Korean Air Passengers Wait in Plane when Diverted to Russia

    July 2, 2013, a Korean Air Boeing 777 with 273 passengers aboard was en route from Chicago to Seoul when it had a drop in pressure as jet fuel was being pumped into the engine. The left engine broke down. After the malfunction, the pilots dumped fuel and diverted to Anadyr airport in Russia, where they made an emergency landing.

    Passengers had to wait inside the plane until the replacement jet arrived, so that with ten hours on the ground made a 13 hour flight almost 24 hours long for passengers.

    The malfunctioning jet was grounded in Russia pending inspection.

    In George’s Point of View

    I’d like to consider two additional points for those passengers stuck on their plane:

    As Anadyr airport is not one we have visited, we wonder if there is no Customs facility at Anadyr airport for individuals without visas to get some relief from the plane, which had to be exceedingly uncomfortable. Certainly there must be some humane way to abide by international law.

    This excessive time stretches some IATA standards of passenger accommodation from both airline and airport. The question isn’t whether passengers are entitled to some kind of compensation for their time and trouble, but rather how the airline and airport are going to recompense the passengers.

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
  • | | |

    Thomson Airways Flight lands safely with One Engine Down


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Jorge Abreu

    What: Thomson Airways Boeing 757-200 en route from Boa Vista Cape Verde to Manchester England
    Where: Porto Santo
    When: Jun 22nd 2009
    Who: 230 passengers
    Why: The pilot experienced a fuel leak in the right engine, shut it down, and diverted to Madeira for a safe landing.

    George’s Point of View

    That must have been harrowing flying on one engine and having to land on one of the Madeira islands. I wonder how they were alerted to the fuel leak–or if they just ran out of gas. Whatever the circumstances, all the more power to the flight crew for managing safely. Let’s hope maintenance can fix the problem in short order. They’ll probably have to fly a crew in.

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.