Boeing Readies Major Changes to 737 Max Software and Training

A Boeing 737 cockpit

Boeing said over the weekend that it has readied changes to the 737 Max’ flight-control software including the controversial stall-prevention feature.

The changes will make that feature, Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System or MCAS, less aggressive and more controllable by pilots.

The system, which is designed to prevent an aerodynamic stall when sensors detect that the aircraft’s nose is pointed too high, will pol data from multiple sensors before it takes control and pushes the nose of the aircraft lower. It currently only uses data from one sensor.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is expected to approve Boeing’s changes, subject to flight tests, the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

The changes came about following the deadly crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 in which 189 people perished. That crash was preceded by the crash of a Lion Air 737 Max 8 in October off the coast of Indonesia.

Since then, the entire fleet of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft has been grounded pending the outcome of the accident investigation and changes to the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)