As the investigation continues into the full reasons why a Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX crashed on October 29, killing all 189 passengers and crew on board, Indonesian investigators and the FAA have suggested the need for further training.
The focus of attention remains on the likelihood that a false data report forced the plane to adopt a steep downward trajectory and the pilots had insufficient training or experience to deal correctly with such a scenario.
It would appear that no information is contained within the aircraft’s flight manual. The investigation also wants to expand to the clarity of U.S.-approved procedures to help pilots prevent the 737 MAX over-reacting to such a data anomaly. Soerjanto Tjahjono, head of Indonesia’s transportation safety committee of crash investigators (KNKT), said on Monday that Indonesian regulators would tighten training requirements as a result of the findings of the investigation so far.
Information recovered from the jet’s flight data recorder last week led the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), according to Reuters, to issue an emergency airworthiness directive urging airlines to update their flight manuals. The directive warned pilots that a computer on the Boeing 737 MAX could lead to the plane being forced to descend sharply for up to ten seconds, even in manual flight, leading to potential difficulties in controlling the plane.
According to a Lion Air instructor, despite this problem apparently not being covered in the operating manual, pilots did have access to a checklist designed to turn off errant systems when the plane started nosing downwards at the wrong time. It needs to be established if the crew examined this checklist and if so, whether they had time to cut off the automated nose-down system. Pilots on a previous flight are understood to have overcome a similar sensor problem. A search for the jet’s missing cockpit voice recorder is ongoing.
