The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has decided that it will not be taking immediate action on Boeing 737 MAX engines, according to Reuters. The determination follows in the wake of two separate bird strike incidents involving Southwest Airlines planes in 2023.
The FAA Corrective Action Review Board has examined the CFM LEAP-1B engine bird strikes, which resulted in smoke entering the cabins of two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The Board is satisfied that immediate action is not necessary. The review will instead continue under standard regulatory procedures.
Determination by Corrective Action Review Board
After careful consideration, the board determined that the issue does not warrant immediate action. The FAA will instead follow its standard regulatory process to address the matter. The US aviation regulator will circulate a notice containing pertinent information to international regulatory bodies.
The FAA had previously been considering recommendations for new takeoff procedures to address the issue. This included closing the airflow to one or both engines to mitigate the potential impact of a bird strike and prevent smoke from entering the cockpit.
However, the implementation of such procedures could potentially delay the certification of Boeing 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 models.
Boeing has stated that it remains committed to following regulatory processes to address potential issues and ensure the continued safety of its global fleet.
The company is actively working on a permanent fix for the engine anti-ice system, which has been identified as a potential cause of engine overheating and failure.
Investigation into Birdstrike Incidents Continues
While the FAA’s decision not to take immediate action may alleviate concerns about the safety of the Boeing 737 MAX, it is important to note that the investigation into the bird strike incidents is ongoing.
Both US plane manufacturer Boeing and Southwest Airlines are collaborating with the regulator to address the problem.
The FAA will continue to monitor the situation and take any necessary actions to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
On 22 November, the NTSB announced that it had opened an investigation into the south-west airlines incident of 20 December 2023. In that incident, a bird strike to the left-hand engine of the Boeing 737-8 resulted in a subsequent smoke in the cockpit event near New Orleans Louisiana.
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