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U.S. pilots flying 737 MAX weren’t told about new automatic systems change linked to Lion Air crash
Pilots for two U.S. airlines flying Boeing's 737 MAX weren't trained about a key change to an automatic system that's been linked to the fatal crash of a Lion Air jet last month, according to pilot representatives at both airlines. (www.seattletimes.com) Altro...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Something seems to have been lost amongst all of the paranoid anti corporate fear mongering conspiracy theorists. Lion Air is a horrible airline with poor maintenance, poor pilots and a horrible safety record. They failed to repair a malfunctioning AOA system and released an unairworthy airplane piloted by poorly trained pilots. Just like Air France 447, this started with a faulty probe and was mishandled by pilots who proceeded to fly a perfectly controllable aircraft into the water.
Most new aircraft now have computers between the pilot and the airplane controls. In most cases these computers will prevent the pilot or the auto pilot to go beyond certain parameters for the safety of the aircraft. However in this case, Boeing has gone one step further and has programmed the flight control computers to not only override the pilot input but actually move the controls in a way to fly the plane, in spite of the pilot. This can be dangerous as seen here. And worst of all Boeing did not advise anyone of what it had done.
Having flown the737 for many hours safely, just one question. If On autopilot an the aircraft starts doing funny things, can’t youturn the a/p offf and become a pilot again?
There are two big whirring trim wheels in the 737 cockpit. They were spinning like mad in this situation, screaming “turn me off!”. This is called runaway trim. The Boeing Manual calls for the following:
1. Grip and hold controls firmly.
2. Turn off Autopilot
3. If runaway continues, Trim cutout switches BOTH OFF.
4. Trim aircraft manually
At my airline this is not a memorized checklist but easily remembered. This situation was not insurmountable. Turning off the trim switches would have resolved this problem immediately. There a dozens of airlines that fly the new 737s. Most had trained properly.
1. Grip and hold controls firmly.
2. Turn off Autopilot
3. If runaway continues, Trim cutout switches BOTH OFF.
4. Trim aircraft manually
At my airline this is not a memorized checklist but easily remembered. This situation was not insurmountable. Turning off the trim switches would have resolved this problem immediately. There a dozens of airlines that fly the new 737s. Most had trained properly.
Boeing's has no excuse for this poor design that caused this crash or the fact they kept this secret apparently even in the certification process. This does not excuse the airline for not training their pilots for a situation they didn't know about.
I have been flying (pilot) for 44 years. My frequent flyer number with Southwest Airlines is 25 years old. I will not fly on a 737 MAX, Southwest knows this. It is difficult to get model of aircraft from Southwest until you board. They change my flights. Boeing has not fixed anything, just changed procedures.