Regulators knew before crashes 737 MAX trim control could be confusing
READ MORE
The manual, which is 1400 pages long, did not specify the flight conditions in which the wheel might be needed.
The trim wheel is a relic of the Boeing 737’s 1960s origins and does not appear in more modern planes such as the 787 and Airbus SE A350. It is not often used, several current and former 737 pilots told Reuters.
“It would be very unusual to use the trim wheel in flight. I have only used manual trim once in the simulator,” said a 737 pilot. “It is not physically easy to make large trim changes to correct, say, an MCAS input. You – or more than likely the other pilot – have to flip out a little handle and wind, much like a boat winch.”
An Ethiopian relative of a crash victim mourns and grieves next to a floral tribute at the scene where the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed shortly after takeoff on March 15.Credit:AP
The EASA document said that after flight testing, the FAA’s Transport Airplane Directorate, which oversees design approvals and modifications, was concerned about whether the 737 MAX system complied with regulations because the thumb switches could not control trim on their own in all conditions.
Article source: http://smh.com.au/business/media-and-marketing/what-will-tech-and-media-entrepreneur-justin-milne-do-with-our-old-abc-20170321-gv2scb.html
Comments
Post a Comment