Boeing CEO says 737 MAX software update working as designed

Boeing’s CE said Thursday that a software update designed to prevent disasters like two recent fatal crashes involving its 737 MAX is working, with about two-thirds of the fast-selling jetliner’s customers having seen the fix in simulator sessions. In his first public speech since an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crash that killed all 157 aboard on March 10, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said additional tests are expected in the coming weeks as the planemaker works to regain the confidence of its customers and the flying public. The world’s largest planemaker is under pressure to convince MAX operators and global regulators that the aircraft, which was grounded worldwide in March, is safe to fly again. Muilenburg said he recently joined one of 96 test flights during which Boeing crew performed different scenarios that exercised the software changes in multiple flight conditions over 159 hours of air time. “The software update functioned as designed,” he said, without indicating when Boeing will deliver the fix to international regulators for their review, which is expected to last around 90 days. Boeing is working to address a glitch when separate software is integrated into the system that was uncovered during an internal review, raising questions on how long before it submits the upgrade for certification. Initial accident investigation reports show a 737 anti-stall system triggered by bad data from a key airflow sensor was “one link in a longer chain of events” in the two crashes, Muilenburg said. “We know we can break this chain link. It’s our responsibility to eliminate this risk.”<br/>