Changes to flight control after crashes

Boeing has announced it will release new flight control software in the wake of a second crash involving its 737 Max fleet.

New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has suspended the operation of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft to or from New Zealand.

It follows similar moves from other aviation regulators internationally after the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed all 157 people on board.

Boeing said it had been developing the flight control software enhancement for the 737 Max to improve safety since the October crash in which a Lion Air plane plunged into the sea killing 189 people. The software enhancement would be deployed across the 737 Max fleet in coming weeks, Boeing said.

There would also be updates to pilot displays, operations manuals and crew training.

The aircraft company said there were already procedures in place to safely handle the unlikely event of false data being sent from the aircraft’s pitch sensors to the autopilot.

CAA said yesterday that Fiji Airways was the only operator flying the Max 8 aircraft into New Zealand, and the airline was promising to minimise disruption by using replacement aircraft. CAA director Graeme Harris said the next scheduled flight was due this afternoon, giving CAA time to thoroughly review concerns.

‘‘The decision to suspend operations by the aircraft follows recent discussions with other aviation authorities, including the US Federal Aviation Administration which have responsibility for oversight of the design of the aircraft.

The CAA’s assessment has taken into consideration the level of uncertainty regarding the cause of the recent Ethiopian Airlines accident plus its review of the aircraft design.’’

Harris said the suspension would remain in place while CAA analysed information as it came to hand to determine the safety risks of continued operation of the 737 Max to and from New Zealand.

Transport Minister Phil Twyford said he was confident in the aviation authority’s response.

After initially opting to continue its New Zealand flights, Fiji Airways said that, in line with the stance taken by aviation regulators, it had decided to temporarily ground its two 737 Max 8s until more information was known about the cause of the Ethiopian accident.

The airline said it operates 17 to 21 flights a week to and from New Zealand.

Of that four or five were operated by the Max 8s, and it would instead use its Boeing

737NG aircraft as well its Airbus

A330 fleet. – With agencies

Fiji Airways said that, in line with the stance taken by aviation regulators, it had decided to temporarily ground its two 737 Max 8s until more information was known about the cause of the Ethiopian accident.