Aviation

FAA requires Boeing 777 software update to auto-throttle glitch

The Boeing 777 software will be updated by the Federal Aviation Administration with a previous software update that fixes an issue with the aircraft’s auto-throttle system. An Asiana 777-200ER crashed in 2013, and the FAA reports that a proposed airworthiness directive (AD) was released on June 22.

The FAA wants to mandate that US airlines replace the outdated Airplane Information Management Block Point software on the 777s. According to the FAA, the most recent update also fixes a different problem with the 777’s “wing anti-ice valve.” The proposal by the FAA would apply to 353 777s with US registrations, including 777-200 and 777-300 models. An inquiry for comments was not immediately answered by Boeing. In July 2021, the airframer released a service bulletin and an existing software upgrade. The FAA wants to make that update mandatory.

According to the FAA, a number of problems led to this decision. It states that an analysis of fleet data found 50 instances of wing anti-ice valve failure between November 2013 and March 2019 in the period. The FAA claims that because of such failures, hot bleed air can harm wing slats. The valve’s performance is tracked by the upgraded software.

In the update, the auto-throttle issue is also addressed. This issue was made public following the troubling 777 incident. While the auto-throttle was in the idle position upon landing, a pilot started a go-around. The auto-throttle should be deactivated when the throttles are advanced, however this is not quite completed. Instead it returned the throttles to idle, “creating a go-around during a low-speed condition.

According to the FAA, investigators determined that the 777’s “insufficient low-speed protection” was to blame for the crash. This software update “inadvertently expected to fail [auto-throttle] go-around during manual throttle advancement after disconnect,” according to the FAA’s paper. The FAAs claim that Boeing’s most recent version fixes the problem.

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

American Airlines Is Looking for Flight Attendants: Apply Now

The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

Close Call at Heathrow: BA Flight Narrowly Escapes Drone Collision

China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.