Boeing Awarded $11.4M Contract to Fix P-8A Flight Control Software

Boeing has been awarded an $11.4 million contract to update the flight control software for the P-8A Poseidon, a militarized version of the Boeing 737 used by the U.S. Navy and several allied air forces.

The Enhanced Digital Flight Control System (EDFCS) software fix addresses a list of documented deficiencies identified during developmental and operational testing of the P-8A's autopilot.

The issues include altitude acquire problems, where the autopilot struggles to hold target altitudes; autopilot placard speed exceedance, where the system allows the aircraft to exceed its maximum certified operating speed due to a throttle retard deficiency; pitch oscillations during airspeed climbs and descents; unexpected mode switches from altitude acquire to vertical speed mode following a speed command change; slow auto throttle response; and bank limit margin tuning.

The contract notice frames these issues as deficiencies identified through the normal software design description developmental and operational testing process, rather than immediate safety crises.