Boeing knew about a MAX software glitch in November 2024. Opened a formal safety review this month — 22 months later.
The company says the issue didn't initially meet safety review criteria. That phrase matters, given what MCAS cost them in 2018-19.
The glitch hits an automated nav feature during missed approaches. Pilots can lose autopilot functions at low altitude. Boeing told operators in August it wasn't a safety risk.
Permanent fix: early 2028. They're trying to accelerate.
But the commercial damage is live. Southwest and United just told Boeing they don't want new MAX aircraft with this software — they want the older version.
Problem: newly produced aircraft must match the certified design. FAA approved the MAX 7 last month with the new software. Southwest has been waiting years and plans to fly it next year.
FAA is investigating. Outcome could block MAX 10 certification if the glitch is deemed unsafe. Delta, United, American, and Alaska all have MAX 10s on order.
GE Aerospace wrote the software.
Watch deliveries, not headlines. Two of Boeing's largest customers just refused a certified aircraft configuration. The cert path for its two newest variants runs through the same code.
$BA $GE $SPY
The company says the issue didn't initially meet safety review criteria. That phrase matters, given what MCAS cost them in 2018-19.
The glitch hits an automated nav feature during missed approaches. Pilots can lose autopilot functions at low altitude. Boeing told operators in August it wasn't a safety risk.
Permanent fix: early 2028. They're trying to accelerate.
But the commercial damage is live. Southwest and United just told Boeing they don't want new MAX aircraft with this software — they want the older version.
Problem: newly produced aircraft must match the certified design. FAA approved the MAX 7 last month with the new software. Southwest has been waiting years and plans to fly it next year.
FAA is investigating. Outcome could block MAX 10 certification if the glitch is deemed unsafe. Delta, United, American, and Alaska all have MAX 10s on order.
GE Aerospace wrote the software.
Watch deliveries, not headlines. Two of Boeing's largest customers just refused a certified aircraft configuration. The cert path for its two newest variants runs through the same code.
$BA $GE $SPY
