Boeing on Saturday revealed that it had made corrections to its 737 Max flight simulator software used to train pilots after the jet was found involved in the two deadly crashes that killed 346 people within six months.
“Boeing has made corrections to the 737 MAX simulator software and has provided additional information to device operators to ensure that the simulator experience is representative across different flight conditions,” the US-based aerospace company said in a statement on Saturday, reported Africa News.
Boeing said its simulators were incapable of replicating certain flight conditions that led to the Ethiopian Airlines crash in March, or the Lion Air accident off Indonesia in October last year. however, the company did not disclose anything about when it first became aware of the problem, and whether it informed regulators.
The statement marked the first time when the aerospace company admitted there was a design flaw in software linked to the 737 MAX, whose MCAS anti-stall software has been blamed in large part for the Ethiopian Airlines tragedy.
The pilots of the two crashed flights struggled to keep their planes airborne as the system, which just received a software update, repeatedly pushed the aircraft’s nose toward the ground.
The Federal Aviation Administration is currently working with Boeing to determine what sort of training will be required for the pilots once the 737 Max takes to the skies again. The two crashes, one in Ethiopia in March and another in Indonesia in October, led to the aircraft being temporarily grounded. It is expected to be back in service this fall.
In related news, Ryanair has announced it still has complete confidence in the Boeing 737-Max aircraft, despite delays in the order and two deadly crashes of the plane. The airline’s fleet currently consists of 455 older Boeing 737s and 19 Airbus 320 aircraft.
