WCA November 2020

From the Americas

While some of the systems, such as automatic emergency braking, have clear and proven safety benefits, others, including pedestrian detection systems, are still in their early stages. In researching its technology review, the AAA study evaluated a 2019 BMW X7 with Active Driving Assistant Professional, a 2019 Cadillac CT6 with Super Cruise, a 2019 Ford Edge with Co-Pilot360, a 2020 Kia Telluride with Highway Driving Assist, and a 2020 Subaru Outback with EyeSight technology. Researchers found that while lane-centring and lane-changing technology worked well on a test course with clear lane markings, the operations accounted for 73 per cent of disengagements in real-world driving. AAA, which liaises with industry leaders, has warned auto manufacturers they need to improve driving assistance systems or risk alienating consumers who are likely to mistrust increasing vehicle automation. Making plans for Max The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing four key Boeing Co 737 Max design and operation changes to address the safety issues revealed by the two fatal crashes that led to the aeroplane’s grounding in March 2019. The FAA is issuing a proposed airworthiness directive for updated flight control software, revised display-processing software to generate alerts, a revision of some flight crew operating procedures, and changes in the routing of certain wiring bundles. The wiring change will ensure the Max complies with FAA’s wire separation safety standards. The measures are much as were expected by Boeing and aerospace analysts. The announcement could set in motion the final process to allow the FAA to lift its grounding order on the plane. Still to be resolved are new pilot-training procedures. In response to the FAA’s proposal, Chicago-based Boeing confirmed it will continue “to make steady progress towards the safe return to service, working closely with the FAA and other global regulators.” The FAA, in its 96-page review, said that it “has preliminarily determined that Boeing’s proposed changes to the 737 Max design, flight crew procedures and maintenance procedures effectively mitigate the airplane-related safety issues.” The review has taken 18 months to produce, involving more than 40 engineers, inspectors, pilots and technical support staff. The changes are designed to prevent the mistaken activation of a key system, known as MCAS, to alert pilots if two AOA sensors are receiving conflicting data and to ensure flight crew can respond to erroneous stabiliser movement. The FAA said the changes would minimise “dependence on pilot action, and the effect of any potential single failure.” Aerospace

The grounding of its previously top-selling 737 Max has already cost Boeing over $19bn, and criminal and congressional investigations continue. But Transport Canada and the EASA continue to have their own concerns Europe’s air safety body, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), has no timescale in mind for the 737 Max to resume flights, saying that Boeing has “more work to do” before any lifting of the ban. The EASA has declined to comment on the FAA’s proposed directive for four design or operating changes, in a move that could lead to the agency lifting a grounding order on the jet later this year, but said it was waiting to conduct its own test flights. Hampered by the travel restrictions imposed by the pandemic, EASA stressed that “the test flights are a prerequisite for EASA to approve the return to service of the 737 Max in Europe,” and reiterated it would only return the aircraft to service once it felt it was safe to do so. “In the light of this position, and in common with the FAA, we cannot yet predict a firm schedule for the return to service and the ungrounding of the aircraft in Europe.” EASA scrutiny is one of a number of hurdles to a widespread return to service, including getting Canadian approval. Dave Calhoun, Boeing’s chief executive, has said he expects Max deliveries to resume in the fourth quarter of 2020. While a planned fine brings new stress to Boeing In August, the FAA proposed a fine of $1.25mn after it was reported that Boeing managers at its South Carolina plant exerted “undue pressure” on workers who handle safety oversight work on behalf of the agency. The FAA alleges that Boeing managers had pressured workers to perform inspections on an aircraft with issues that made it ineligible for inspection; harassed workers to perform inspections more quickly; threatened dismissal of workers; and retaliated against a unit manager for filing an undue pressure report. The practice of delegating some FAA tasks to aircraft manufacturers has come under criticism since the 737 Max crashes raised questions about the programme. In two civil penalty notices, the FAA alleged Boeing failed to ensure administrators were in a position to effectively represent the FAA’s interests and that some Boeing managers “exerted undue pressure or interfered” with people performing FAA tasks. Boeing said the proposed fines “are a clear and strong reminder of our obligations” under the Organization Designation Authorization programme, or ODA. “Undue pressure of any type is inconsistent with our values, and will not be tolerated,” the company confirmed. The FAA said the pressure came from executives including the

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Wire & Cable ASIA – November/December 2020