UK Civil Aviation Authority tweetz:
Statement: Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has issued instructions to stop any commercial passenger flights from any operator arriving, departing or overflying UK airspace.
You can read the full update online [here].
The move follows similar bans of the aircraft in Australia, Singapore, China, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Meanwhile…
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary
On RTÉ One’s News at One, Simon Calder, travel editor of London’s Independent said:
“It would not surprise me at all if the Irish Aviation Authority followed suit. The main airline using the jet, both in Ireland and in the UK, is Norwegian. TUI Airways also have some.
“But crucially Ryanair has the biggest order in Europe: 135 of those jets. They do not start flying until May.”
Listen back in full here
UPDATE:
Norwegian temporarily suspends flights with the Boeing 737 MAX 8, following recommendations by European aviation authorities. We will do our upmost to take care of our passengers in the best possible way. https://t.co/kZICrrRGsN
— Norwegian (@Fly_Norwegian) March 12, 2019
So from what I understand, the 737 mx 8 has it’s engines in a different position on the wings that previous 737’s. Not sure if this means that the plane is more likely to stall, but it does mean that Boeing adds a piece of fight software to prevent the plane from staling which means it takes control of the plane and tries to put the nose down – good thing at 30,000 ft, not so good at a 1,000ft..
Seems at certain angles (of attack) the engine housings can generate lift themselves, like wings do, and being so far in front of the wing can bring the nose up, which in some situations might lead to a stall.
The protection is being blamed for going off on bad input data and ‘decisively flying the plane into the ground’ to quote one learned observer.
Having lost a few colleagues on the Ethiopian flight, I am glad to hear this news, until the issue is identified and resolved. Better an abundance of caution than even one more grieving family.
sorry to hear that Slightly Bemused.
condolences
Thanks guys.