The new takeoff instructions could direct pilots to turn off airflow from the aircraft’s engines into the cabin.
A CFM LEAP-1B engine on a 737 MAX (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)
The FAA is considering new takeoff instructions for pilots of Boeing 737 MAX jets to prevent smoke from entering the cabin or cockpit if a bird flies into the engine.
According to a Seattle Times report, pilots would be required to turn off the airflow that links the main engines to the aircraft’s interior if new instructions were approved. The report stated the temporary solution would be in effect until Boeing issues a permanent fix, and that could further delay the certification of Boeing’s already delayed MAX 7 and MAX 10 models.
Referred to as “bleed air,” airflow from an aircraft’s engines is usually moved into the cabin through air conditioning to control air pressure and temperature inside. The Seattle Times report stated that turning off this airflow from the engines will reduce cabin pressurization, though the auxiliary power unit in the aircraft’s tail will still keep some pressurization.
In March 2023, a bird flew into the engine of a Boeing 737 MAX 8 during takeoff from Havana to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Video of the incident showed smoke filling the cabin of the aircraft, which promptly made an emergency landing back in Havana.
Late last year, a similar incident occurred on another 737 MAX 8 flight traveling from New Orleans to Tampa, Florida. This flight also made an emergency landing back at the New Orleans airport.
On Friday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) posted on X/Twitter that it had opened an investigation into the Southwest left engine bird strike that caused smoke to enter the cockpit near New Orleans.
The FAA told AirlineGeeks in an emailed statement that the agency is addressing the CFM LEAP-1B engine issue through its standard continued operational safety process. This includes close collaboration with Boeing, CFM, and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
“We will convene a Corrective Action Review Board in the coming weeks to examine the data and develop a path forward,” the FAA said in its statement. “The FAA determined this is not an immediate flight-safety issue.”
The FAA review comes after two incidents forced the emergency landings of two 737 MAX jets flying for Southwest.
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