Boeing 737 MAX Software Glitch No Longer a Safety Concern

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has determined that a software glitch in some Boeing 737 MAX flight computers poses no safety concern. This decision clears the way for approval of the best-selling narrow-body jet's largest variant, the 737 MAX 10.

The FAA said the determination was based on the fact that 'pilots retain full control of the aircraft and the indications to the flight crew are clear and unambiguous.' The issue, which could prevent pilots from accessing automated flight guidance during an unusual landing scenario, had been flagged by Canadian carrier WestJet nearly two years ago.

WestJet discovered the anomaly during an entry-into-service test flight in August. The airline said that 'very few occurrences' of this condition have been reported by other operators using the affected software, U14 or U14.1.

The FAA had delayed certification of the MAX 10 while it completed an analysis of the software issue. However, with this determination, the MAX 10 could be certified as soon as later this month, in line with earlier expectations.