Summary:
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Pilot’s Inquiry
On December 1, 2018, the chief pilot of Ethiopian Airlines reached out to Boeing with urgent questions about handling warning signals on the new 737 Max, seeking guidance on potential issues. -
Boeing’s Cautious Response
Boeing senior officials engaged in an email exchange about whether they could respond to the pilot without breaching international regulations regarding ongoing crash investigations, specifically referencing a recent Lion Air crash. -
Foreboding Context
The pilot’s inquiry would tragically prove relevant as, just months later, an Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max would experience a similar malfunction, resulting in a crash that claimed all lives on board. -
Missed Opportunity for Safety
Boeing’s chief pilot, Jim Webb, advised limiting the response to previously issued training materials, avoiding direct answers to the pilot’s critical questions, thereby missing a chance to enhance safety communications. -
Implications for Pilot Training
The limited response raises concerns about whether a more informative reply could have influenced how pilots approached the malfunction, underscoring the importance of transparency in aviation safety practices.
Read more at: Seattle Times
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