FAA proposes requiring four key Boeing 737 MAX design changes

Today, the FAA sent a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for a Boeing 737 MAX airworthiness directive (AD) (PDF) to the Office of the Federal Register for publication. The NPRM proposes mandating a number of design changes to address an identified unsafe condition. When the NPRM publishes in the Federal Register, a 45 day public comment period will begin. The FAA is posting the NPRM on its website today to enable the public to begin review early.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2018-23-51, which applies to all The Boeing Company Model 737-8 and 737-9 (737 MAX) airplanes. Since AD 2018-23-51 was issued, the agency has determined that final corrective action is necessary to address the unsafe condition.

• require installing new flight control computer (FCC) software,
• revising the existing Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to incorporate new and revised flightcrew procedures,
• installing new MAX display system (MDS) software,
• changing the horizontal stabilizer trim wire routing installations,
• completing an angle of attack sensor system test,
• performing an operational readiness flight

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Through a thorough, transparent, and inclusive process, the FAA has preliminarily determined that Boeing’s proposed changes to the 737 MAX design, flightcrew procedures and maintenance procedures effectively mitigate the airplane-related safety issues that contributed to the Flight 610 and Flight 302 accidents. The FAA further preliminarily determined that the proposed design change also address additional safety concerns beyond those identified during the accident investigations. This report does not address other safety issues that might have contributed to the accidents but are not related to airplane design. This includes the airline maintenance practices, the aircraft operators’ compliance posture, and pilot training effectiveness. The FAA believes recommendations related to these other potential contributing factors should be addressed by thappropriate organizations: Preliminary Summary of the FAA’s Review of the Boeing 737 MAX

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Return to Service:
The FAA would revise the Emergency Order of Prohibition to allow the 737 MAX to return
to service based on completion of the following actions:
 Completion of all TAB return to service (RTS) recommendations and acceptance by
the TAB of those completed actions.
 Successful completion by Boeing — and acceptance by the FAA — of all regulatory
requirements, including aircraft design, documentation, training, and maintenance
aspects.
 Publication of two Notices to FAA inspectors containing national policy on minimum
required maintenance program changes and pilot training program changes that
relate to the 737 MAX design change. The Notices direct FAA maintenance and
operations inspectors to mandate the changes to U.S. air carrier maintenance
programs and pilot training programs in accordance with applicable U.S. operating
rules.
 Issuance of an AD that will provide specific instructions for steps the FAA deems
necessary that owners or operators must take to correct the unsafe condition, and
to support public confidence.

Additionally, the following conditions would be prerequisites to resuming operations in the
U.S.:
Preliminary Summary of the FAA’s Review of the Boeing 737 MAX
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 For previously delivered 737 MAX airplanes, owner/operators must incorporate all
FAA-mandated design changes and maintenance actions.
 For any future delivered 737 MAX airplanes, Boeing is required to incorporate the
same mandatory actions.
 All 737 MAX operators must complete all pilot training identified in the revised 737
MAX FSB report.