A panel of Federal Aviation Administration safety experts concluded Friday that a software defect affecting certain 737 MAX aircraft does not pose a safety threat.
The issue, identified by Boeing, involves a potential failure in an automated navigation capability. It originated from a software update applied to the flight computers on specific 737 MAX models.
According to an FAA statement released Friday, the agency's Corrective Action Review Board reached this conclusion because pilots maintain complete control over the aircraft, and the information presented to the flight crew remains clear and unambiguous.
A Boeing spokesperson confirmed the company is aware of the problem and has engineers developing a software update to permanently resolve it. In a statement provided Monday, the spokesperson noted that last month, all 737 operators were notified about a software issue that could prevent pilots from accessing automated flight guidance during a specific landing scenario. The company also distributed information reinforcing existing pilot procedures for safely managing such situations.
Boeing is collaborating with airlines to formalize a procedure that allows pilots to re-enable automated vertical navigation if necessary. In a statement issued Friday, the company affirmed it will continue to follow the FAA's lead as engineers work on the next software update.
Industry officials expressed concern that the loss of certain autopilot functions could overload pilots who are already busy, according to a report first published Sept. 26.
Boeing explained that the glitch arises when pilots adjust their pre-programmed flight path following a missed approach. In such instances, the flight management computer software may downgrade vertical navigation to a simpler level of automation for pitch control.
Vertical Navigation assists pilots in managing aircraft altitude and optimizing climb and descent profiles based on a variety of factors, such as weather conditions and route constraints.
Boeing stated that in this scenario, pilots need to perform additional procedural steps to use vertical navigation on subsequent approaches. The company also affirmed that all pilots are trained on safely landing a plane without automated vertical navigation.
Boeing is working under FAA oversight to complete the software update and is working with airlines to formalize a procedure where pilots can re-enable automated vertical navigation, the aerospace company said Monday.
As of Friday, Boeing will issue a bulletin to airlines regarding how to recognize and respond to the situation if it happens. Additionally, the FAA will issue a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin to United States airlines and foreign regulators to ensure they're aware of Boeing's bulletin.
The 737 MAX series has already been on the FAA radar after a series of issues, including problems with the deicing system of the planes' engines. The deicing issues delayed certification of the MAX 10 and MAX 7.
Over the past year, the aerospace company has seen improvements in the family of planes, with the FAA certifying the MAX 7 in August. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said certification for the MAX 10 is coming very soon, during an industry conference this month.
In May, Boeing bumped its 737 MAX production rate to 47 planes a month after passing the FAA's capstone review. The production rate has been steadily increasing since the initial 38-plane production cap after a door plug blew out of a 737 MAX after taking off from Portland in 2024.
Boeing’s production ramp-up for the 737 MAX fleet has proceeded more slowly than initially projected, according to statements made by company leadership during a September 16 conference. Despite these initial delays, the manufacturer maintains its long-term target of manufacturing 52 aircraft per month. The expansion of the North Line facility in Everett is expected to be a critical factor in achieving this monthly output goal.