FAA panel finds 737 Max software glitch not a safety risk

A Federal Aviation Administration review panel decided Friday that a newly disclosed software glitch in some Boeing The Boeing Company ↗ 0.67% 737 Max flight computers does not pose a safety risk. The ruling removes a fresh obstacle to certification of the 737 Max 10, the largest version of Boeing's best-selling narrowbody jet.bloomberg+1

The Wall Street Journal News Corp ↗ 0.64% reported the decision first, citing people familiar with the matter. The FAA then confirmed it in a statement: "Following a thorough review, a panel of FAA safety experts on Friday determined a software issue in certain Boeing 737 MAX flight computers is not a safety concern". The agency said its Corrective Action Review Board reached that conclusion "because pilots retain full control of the aircraft and the indications to the flight crew are clear and unambiguous". Boeing shares rose in afternoon trading after the news.cnbc+2

What the glitch does

Boeing disclosed the issue on Saturday, Sept. 26. It said the problem could stop pilots from using automated flight guidance in one specific landing scenario. The company said it had told operators and was working on a software update to fix the problem permanently. According to Simple Flying, the problem shows up when a 737 Max is flying an automated precision approach, the crew aborts the landing and goes around, and the pilots then change the route programmed into the flight management computer. In that case, the plane can unexpectedly stop following its programmed vertical flight path. The FAA has said this can increase pilot workload during a go-around.reuters+1

The board was asked to decide whether the problem was an unsafe condition that called for further regulatory action, such as an airworthiness directive with required fixes for operators. Before the meeting, airline officials told Reuters they did not expect the board to find a safety concern. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had also played down the issue, comparing it to a smartphone update and saying it "hasn't been flagged for us as a safety issue".reuters+2

Path to Max 10 certification

On Monday, Sept. 28, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency would hold off on certifying the Max 10 until the glitch had been assessed. Boeing shares fell after the announcement. "We haven't concluded whether this is a safety-of-flight issue or not, but we will be delaying the 10," Bedford said at the time. Reuters reported that the review could have led to months of rework if the board had found an unreasonable safety risk.cnbc+1

The Max 10 has been delayed for years. Boeing said in July that the jet had completed its final certification flight and that the Max 10 and Max 7 programs were on track for certification in 2026 and customer deliveries in 2027. Bloomberg reported in July that the FAA was likely to certify the Max 10 in September or October. Officials have said the plane could now be certified later this month.bloomberg+2