The Air Current
• Jon Ostrower
U.S. airlines have balked at adopting Boeing’s latest 737 MAX software versions as the FAA reviews a bug that can arise during missed landing approaches. The issue has drawn heightened attention over the past week, putting software changes and regulatory scrutiny at the center of 737 MAX operations.
Aviation Safety & Regulation
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The FAA outlined conditions under which a Boeing 737’s flight-management computer issue could affect vertical navigation during a missed approach. The regulator is not mandating immediate operator action, but advised airlines to follow Boeing’s guidance for addressing the problem.
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U.S. airlines have balked at adopting Boeing’s latest 737 MAX software versions as the FAA reviews a bug that can arise during missed landing approaches. The issue has drawn heightened attention over the past week, putting software changes and regulatory scrutiny at the center of 737 MAX operations.
Moldovan authorities said three missiles and two drones entered the country’s airspace, with debris causing collateral damage. President Maia Sandu condemned Russia over the latest violation, underscoring the conflict’s spillover into neighboring states and the continuing exposure of regional airspace to military activity.
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A Gulfstream G100 operated by Latitude Air Ambulance lost contact shortly after 1 a.m. while carrying four Canadians and two people picked up in Bermuda on a medical flight to Boston. The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search operation off Nantucket after the aircraft reportedly underwent a sudden descent.
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The UAE identified the suspected attacker as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, who allegedly struck the captain with a cockpit weapon and tried to seize control of the Boeing 737 en route to Tel Aviv. Two off-duty pilots and passengers intervened, allowing the aircraft to land safely in Saudi Arabia.
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A Flydubai Boeing 737 MAX endured a violent in-flight sequence roughly two hours into a flight this week, reaching speeds and gravitational forces severe enough to risk structural breakup. The aircraft ultimately survived the near-supersonic-speed dive, highlighting the extreme loads commercial airliners can withstand.
French single-engine trainer manufacturer Elixir Aircraft has grounded its entire fleet following a fatal accident. An emergency directive formalizes the grounding while investigators work to determine the cause of the crash, creating an immediate operational and safety review for operators of the company’s aircraft.
Mexico’s requirements for flight data recorders are creating compliance challenges for charter operators, particularly those flying light and midsize jets that typically lack FDR equipment. The rules could require operators to assess aircraft capabilities, retrofit fleets or adjust operations to meet national safety requirements.
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