Inspections Ordered for the 171 Aircraft

The FAA issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive regarding a particular configuration of Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft after a high-profile incident with an Alaska Airlines flight.

The EAD affects all 7370-9 aircraft, certificated in any category, that have a mid cabin door plug installed.. The FAA says that there are 171 such aircraft, and will require about 8 hours of inspections in order to return them to service. The inspections will hopefully prevent the “potential in-flight loss of a mid cabin door plug, which could result in injury to passengers and crew, the door impacting the airplane, and/or the loss of control of the airplane.”

“This AD prohibits further flight of affected airplanes, until the airplane is inspected and all applicable corrective actions have been performed using a method approved by the manager,” adds the Airworthiness Directive. The FAA is clear that it considers the missive to be an interim action, stating “if final action is later identified, the FAA might consider further rulemaking then.”

The FAA will not allow Special Flight Permits for routine flights, only allowing them to be issued in an unpressurized condition throughout their voyage.

FMI: www.faa.gov