FAA examines Boeing 737 smoke risks after bird strike incidents

US aviation regulators are examining whether pilots of Boeing Co.’s 737 Max should take new precautions following two incidents in which planes were filled with smoke after large birds struck the engines. A small group of investigators at the Federal Aviation Administration has developed internal recommendations on how to address the issue, including potentially requiring pilots to shut down one or both air conditioning packs during takeoff that regulate airflow in the cockpit. The recommendations, seen by Bloomberg News, also urge the FAA to review all novel and unique features of the 737 Max to ensure that they are adequately communicated in pilot operating manuals. A representative for the FAA said Thursday that the agency is convening a Corrective Action Review Board “in the coming weeks,” and that the board’s work will include “thoroughly evaluating the internal FAA safety recommendations.” The National Transportation Safety Board said separately Thursday that it was gathering information about the bird-strike incidents but didn’t say whether it would conduct its own investigation. The mishaps involved Boeing Co. 737 Max aircraft flown by Southwest Airlines Co. and LEAP-1B engines made by CFM International, a joint venture of General Electric Co. and Safran SA. The FAA said it’s collaborating with Boeing, CFM and European aviation safety regulators to address the engine issue. The review board — which identifies and evaluates safety issues, develops corrective steps and can order changes at airlines or manufacturers — will “examine the data and develop a path forward,” the FAA said in a statement. “The FAA has determined this is not an immediate flight-safety issue.”<br/>