One week before new safety legislation passed by the US Congress takes effect, Boeing is about to obtain an exception so that the 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 jets can be certified under the current rules.
According to Reuters, the planemaker has already gathered support from congressmen to approve an amendment to the law approved in December 2020 and which provides for the mandatory installation of a safety alert system for the crew in situations of high angle of attack.
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The change is expected to be voted on this week, exempting Boeing from including the synthetic angle of attack and stall warning system for the 737-7 and 737-10 aircraft.
Without the new safety feature, the entire 737 MAX family will continue to use an older system, eliminating extra costs for Boeing to upgrade the aircraft.
The theme has put pilots in conflict. There are unions that support the postponement, fearing layoffs due to the delay in the jet certification program, while others see the exception as a threat to the safety of crew and passengers.
The new alert system was approved at the end of President Donald Trump’s administration, amid the consequences of the two fatal accidents with the 737 MAX 8 that killed 346 people.
Boeing has already received more than 1,000 orders for the 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 variants and expects to put them into service in early 2023 and 2024, respectively.
