A highly publicized Boeing flight management software issue doesn’t pose a flight safety issue, resolving one of the final obstacles to certifying the long-delayed 737 Max 10, the Federal Aviation Administration said Friday.

The agency convened a corrective action review board on Friday to review the issue in the U14 and U14.1 software version updates to the 737’s flight management computer (FMC), which Boeing flagged in an August bulletin to 737 operators. When a pilot alters their preprogrammed flight path following a missed approach, the autopilot can disconnect the vertical navigation mode and transition to a simpler level of automation for pitch control.

“Following a thorough review, a panel of FAA safety experts on Friday determined a software issue in certain Boeing 737 Max flight computers is not a safety concern,” the agency said in a statement. “The FAA’s Corrective Action Review Board made that determination because pilots retain full control of the aircraft and the indications to the flight crew are clear and unambiguous.”

Boeing will issue a bulletin to airlines about how to recognize and respond to the situation should it occur, and the FAA will issue a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin to both U.S. airlines and foreign regulators to ensure they’re aware of Boeing’s guidance. The FAA added that it will consider appropriate action if it receives new information about this issue.

Julie Johnsson
3 hours ago

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