Boeing Takes Early Action to Pre-Wire 737 MAX Aircraft for Upcoming EU Aviation Safety Changes

Boeing has proactively started pre-wiring its 737 MAX aircraft to rework the Angle of Attack (AoA) system, well ahead of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) mandate. According to Bob Michael, the 737 Customer Leader, all currently built airplanes have been equipped with the required wiring in preparation for anticipated changes since the summer of 2022. This move comes as part of the aircraft’s compliance with EASA’s regulations, which demand adjustments to the AoA system.

In response to EASA’s directives, Boeing has been diligently working on a Service Bulletin (SB) to provide necessary information for airlines operating the 737 MAX. The changes to the AoA system were initially set forth by EASA when they lifted the grounding of the aircraft in January 2021. Among other requirements, Boeing had to incorporate the MAX Display System (MDS) with the “AOA DISAGREE” functionality and modify the stabilizer trim control wiring.

Since June 2022, Boeing has successfully built 355 aircraft for 37 different airlines worldwide. In the European Union, the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) has produced 53 aircraft for seven airlines, with 46 of them being assigned to the Ryanair group, five of which are registered under Malta Air.

EASA’s post Return to Service (RTS) mandates include integrity enhancements to the AoA system, specifically developed and certified for the 737 MAX-10, as well as updates to the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) and a non-critical Systems Safety Analysis (SSA) verification. EASA expressed confidence in the combined efforts, stating that they provide the necessary elements to ensure the safe operation of the 737 MAX.

Looking ahead, EASA and Boeing have agreed on two critical post-grounding changes: improving the AoA system’s integrity, which will be integrated into the 737 MAX-10 and retrofitted across the entire fleet, and conducting further evaluation of the Crew Alerting System (CAS).

In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will mandate modern flight crew alerting systems for 737 MAXs through the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act (ACSAA). While the Omnibus Appropriations Bill permits Boeing to proceed with the 737 MAX-7 and MAX-10 certification without a deadline, it also requires all 737 MAXs to be retrofitted with modernized versions of the Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) one year after the 737 MAX-10 is certified.

Boeing is optimistic about the certification timeline for the 737 MAX-7 and MAX-10, with expectations for approval in 2023 and 2024, respectively.