BREAKING: 737 MAX flights BANNED throughout Europe

[brooklynite]

Following the tragic accident of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 involving a Boeing 737 MAX 8, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is taking every step necessary to ensure the safety of passengers.

As a precautionary measure, EASA has published today an Airworthiness Directive, effective as of 19:00 UTC, suspending all flight operations of all Boeing Model 737-8 MAX and 737-9 MAX aeroplanes in Europe. In addition EASA has published a Safety Directive, effective as of 19:00 UTC, suspending all commercial flights performed by third-country operators into, within or out of the EU of the above mentioned models.

The accident investigation is led by the Ethiopian Authorities with the support of the National Transportation Safety Board, as the aircraft was designed and built in the United States. EASA has offered their assistance in supporting the accident investigation.

EASA is continuously analysing the data as it becomes available. The accident investigation is currently ongoing, and it is too early to draw any conclusions as to the cause of the accident.

https://www.easa.europa.eu/newsroom-and-events/press-releases/easa-suspends-all-boeing-737-max-operations-europe

[MineralMan]

1. So are US carriers using that model for transatlantic flights?

I'm guessing so. That should speed up the suspension of flights originating in the US.

ETA: After doing some checking, it appears that no US carrier is flying those planes to Europe from the US. American Airlines has several routes to South America from Miami using the 737 MAX 8, though.

[brooklynite]

3. Not enough capacity for a European long-haul

[MineralMan]

4. OK. I was unclear on that.

So, the stand-down in Europe won't affect any US carriers. I wonder how long it will take for them to suspend flights until the cause of those crashes is figured out. Pretty risky stuff, I think.

From what I'm seeing, it looks like the flight deck crew suddenly loses control capabilities when these accidents occur. Sounds like a programming error somewhere in the flight control system that allows the computer to take control of the aircraft, and either the pilots don't know how or are unable to switch over to manual control.

Such a situation could occur only if a certain set of parameters reached some specific levels, triggering an automated response. From the frequency of the crashes, it's probably something that's unlikely to occur on most flights, but unpredictable. Not good. As far as we know, nobody's recovered control after such a thing occurred, or we'd know about it.

Fly-by-wire systems are sort of scary that way. It would make me nervous if i were sitting in the cockpit, I think.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. The 737 MAX-8 has a range of over 4,000 miles, so it could fly to Europe,

and AFAIK it has 180-minute ETOPS certification, which means it can operate over water on one engine for up to 180 minutes from a diversion airport. I don't know whether any U.S. airlines use it on those routes, though, which are mostly over the North Atlantic.

[brooklynite]

8. The point is that, for the European market, the 737 MAX doesn't have enough seats...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. I think that aircraft has 180-minute ETOPS certification,

which is all that's needed for most U.S.-Europe flights. I don't know whether any U.S. airline flies it on those routes, though.

[MineralMan]

6. It looks like none are flying those routes so far.

So, this won't affect US airlines directly. I wonder if the trend toward grounding those aircraft will spread, though. I suspect it will.

[malaise]

2. Good

Safety first