US Aviation Regulator Says To Order Airlines To Follow Boeing Warning After Lion Air Crash

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Wednesday that it would issue a directive mandating domestic airlines to follow Boeing's advisory on responding to false readings of 737 MAX aircraft's sensors in the wake of last week's Lion Air plane crash in Indonesia.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th November, 2018) The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Wednesday that it would issue a directive mandating domestic airlines to follow Boeing's advisory on responding to false readings of 737 MAX aircraft's sensors in the wake of last week's Lion Air plane crash in Indonesia.

Earlier in the day, Boeing issued a safety bulletin for operators of its 737 MAX aircraft, warning them about potentially incorrect data provided by the aircraft's AOA (Angle of Attack) sensors, which are responsible for showing how the airplane's nose is pointed and may erroneously command an abrupt dive.

"The FAA plans to mandate the Flight Crew Operations Manual Bulletin by issuing an Airworthiness Directive (AD). The FAA continues to work closely with Boeing, and as a part of the investigative team on the Indonesia Lion Air accident, will take further appropriate actions depending on the results of the investigation," the regulator said in a statement.

The FAA noted it had also alerted affected domestic carriers and foreign aviation regulators that oversee airlines, which use the Boeing 737 MAX.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which has sent its investigators to Indonesia to assist local authorities, said that it had reviewed the draft bulletin and provided its comments.

"The NTSB is aware of the operations bulletin issued by Boeing to all B737 Max operators. Our investigators have been working closely with our technical advisors as part of the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee's investigation of the Lion Air crash. Our investigators reviewed a copy of the draft Ops Bulletin and provided comments," a spokesperson for the NTSB said in a statement.

The flydubai carrier told Sputnik that it had also received the bulletin, stating that the notice "only refers to raising more awareness, there are no changes to the Manual or existing SOPs [special operations procedures]."

"Flydubai has received from Boeing, a multi-operator message (MOM) issued to all Boeing 737 MAX 8/9 operators. We will comply with guidance from the manufacturer and the regulator," the air carrier's spokesperson said.

Lion Air Flight JT610, en route to the Indonesian city of Pangkal Pinang, lost contact with air traffic control on October 29 shortly after departing from Jakarta. The plane later fell into the Java Sea, killing all 189 people on board.