US warns 40 foreign operators who may be flying Boeing 737s over rudder problem
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Monday said that more than 40 foreign Boeing 737 operators may have operated aircraft with instructions that could pose a safety risk.
The NTSB last week issued emergency safety recommendations about the potential for a rudder control system on some Boeing 737 planes after the February incident involving a United Airlines flight.
The NTSB also disclosed Monday that it has learned that two foreign operators experienced similar incidents in 2019 involving actuators led by emissions.
“We are concerned that other airlines may not be able to accommodate their 737 operators,” said Jennifer Homendy, chairwoman of the NTSB, on Monday in a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) director Mike Whitaker.
The NTSB is investigating an incident in which the rudder of a United Boeing 737 MAX 8 “stuck” in neutral during landing at Newark Airport, NJ All 161 passengers and crew were injured.
The NTSB said 271 impact components may be installed on aircraft operating on at least 40 foreign aircraft carriers, while 16 are still installed on US-registered aircraft. It said up to 75 may have been used in aftermarket installations.
CBC News contacted Air Canada, WestJet, Flair Airlines and Sunwing Airlines to confirm they were among the 40 foreign airlines cited by the NTSB.
In an email to CBC News on Monday evening, a WestJet spokesperson confirmed that the part of concern is not on any of its planes.
Flair Airlines said it is following the safety recommendations and aviation guidelines issued by Boeing, the FAA, the NTSB, Transport Canada and other relevant authorities.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is of the utmost importance, and we will continue to meet or exceed all safety standards to ensure full protection on all flights, read the airline’s statement.
Other airlines have yet to respond.
CBC News has also contacted the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and is awaiting a response.
During testimony in front of the US Senate, Boeing’s chief executive apologized to the family members of those who died in Boeing plane crashes but avoided many direct questions from the senators.
Homendy said he was concerned that the FAA “did not take this issue seriously until we issued our emergency safety recommendation report.”
The FAA said it is taking the NTSB’s recommendations seriously and is scheduled to conduct additional calibration tests in October.
The FAA’s corrective action review board met on Friday, and the agency said it is “moving immediately to call the affected aviation authorities to ensure they have the information they need from the FAA including any recommended actions.”
United Airlines said last week that the rudder control components for sale are used on only nine Boeing 737 planes built by other airlines; All parts were removed earlier this year.
The NTSB said Thursday that none of the 737s on US airlines are operating the affected actuators, which are installed on some 737 MAX planes and previous-generation 737 NG planes that also feature an optional landing system.
Boeing said in August it notified “737 stakeholders of a possible condition with an actuator that directs the release of the rudder.” It did not comment on Monday.
As Boeing pleads guilty to criminal fraud related to two fatal crashes, The National breaks down what happened to the aviation giant’s reputation and how safe its planes are.
Source link
