FAA Clears Boeing 737 MAX Software of Safety Concerns

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has determined that a software defect in some Boeing 737 MAX flight-management systems does not pose a safety risk. The issue was identified by Boeing in August and promptly reported to the FAA and airline operators. The FAA’s Corrective Action Review Board concluded on October 2 that the software problem does not compromise flight safety because pilots maintain full control of the aircraft, and the flight crew receives clear instructions.

The defect affects versions 14 and 14.1 of the automated vertical navigation (VNAV) software, potentially causing the system to fail during a missed approach or reapproach if the flight path is altered. In such cases, pilots are trained to follow additional procedures for subsequent approaches. No airlines have reported any incidents related to this issue.

This ruling comes as Boeing awaits FAA certification for the 737 MAX 10, the largest variant in the series. While the FAA’s clearance of the VNAV issue may expedite the MAX 10’s certification, Boeing had previously expected approval before the end of the year. The smaller 737 MAX 7 received FAA approval in early August.

Boeing has secured over 1,400 orders for the 737 MAX series from major carriers, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Ryanair, and United Airlines.