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Summary
- US Congress has incorporated a tighter rule for accepting jetliner designs
- The bill announced funding of $1.4 trillion and allowed the FAA with substantially more authority
- Aircraft manufacturers must maintain critical documentation and invest in pilot training
The US Congress, in its year-end federal omnibus spending bill has incorporated significantly tighter rules for accepting jetliner designs after two fatal Boeing 737 MAX jet crashes in 2018 and 2019. The bill is expected to transform the way the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assesses and approves new airliner models and bring about significant changes in the process. The bill announced funding of $1.4 trillion and allowed the FAA with substantially more authority to oversee the technical aspects and approve/disapprove engineering decisions.
The increased funding shall be utilised in training pilots to tackle emergency situations and malfunctions of automated cockpit systems along with enhancing the expertise of the FAA.
Also read: FAA clears Boeing 737 Max: How will it impact the British aviation stocks?
The technical advancements are not always meant for improving the flying experience. Sometimes these are forced upon engineers and supervisors to meet the cost or schedule targets. The new legislation will empower the FAA to impose fines and other penalties for any compromise and gaps in designs.
There seems to be a lot of knowledge gap between FAA and Boeing that often serves as a roadblock, and there is an urgent need to bridge the gap to avoid fatal tragedies. The FAA can now solicit views from experts outside Boeing to scrutinise the aircraft’s design. The FAA is also allowed to seek recommendations while reviewing novel plane designs from industry veterans who have served in the Air Force and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The bill emphasises on the documentation of information in pilot manuals about the dangers of automated flight-control systems. The aircraft manufacturers could be penalised if they fail to do so.
The FAA ordered the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX after the crash. After being grounded for nearly 20 months, the FAA recently lifted the order and allowed Boeing 737 MAX to fly only if it increases pilot training and modifies its flawed flight control system.
Notably, Boeing 737 MAX is operational in Brazil. Some nations are carrying out their own evaluation for the aircraft. EASA, the head of Europe's aviation safety agency, has completed its review on the Boeing 737 MAX and has declared it as safe. The FAA's order affects only the US; however, the big machine will remain grounded in some countries until further review.
