The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will commission a review to aadress safety concerns related to the CFM LEAP-1B engines powering Boeing 737 MAX airplanes.
This move follows two separate incidents where Southwest Airlines flights experienced smoke in the cockpit after sustaining birdstrikes. In 2023, two separate birdstrike incidents occurred on Southwest Airlines flights powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines, which are used on Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
The two incidents resulted in smoke entering the cockpit on both occasions, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to investigate potential safety concerns with the engine design.
While the FAA has emphasized that this is not an immediate flight safety issue, the agency is taking proactive steps to address the problem and ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
FAA Advice of Engine Review
In a brief statement issued on 21 November 2024 the FAA advised that will address the CFM LEAP-1B engine issue. It now plans to convene a special review to address the matter. This review would take place through the aviation regulators standard continued operational safety process. It will involve close collaboration with Boeing, CFM and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
“We will convene a Corrective Action Review Board in the coming weeks to examine the data and develop a path forward. The FAA determined this is not an immediate flight-safety issue,” the statement concluded.
While the FAA has emphasized that this is not an immediate flight safety issue, they are collaborating with both manufacturers and European aviation authorities to address the problem. The agency may issue new guidelines for pilots and is working on a permanent solution with Boeing.
The Potential for Further 737 MAX Delays
The review process could potentially delay the certification of the 737 MAX 7 and 10 models. The aircraft variants are already behind in production and delivery scheduling.
Boeing is currently working to address an engine anti-ice system issue that could lead to engine failure. This issue, combined with the FAA’s new investigation, could further complicate the timeline for these new aircraft.
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