Crashed 737 Max planes lacked safety features that Boeing sold as extras
For story suggestions or custom animation requests, contact [email protected]. Visit http://archive.nextanimationstudio.com to view News Direct's complete archive of 3D news animations. RESTRICTIONS: Broadcast: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Digital: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN The doomed 737 Max jets in Indonesia and Ethiopia were not equipped with two notable safety features because Boeing charged an additional cost to install them. According to the New York Times, the MCAS software on the Boeing 737 Max takes readings from one of two angle of attack sensors on the plane that aligns itself with oncoming airflow. If MCAS detects that the plane is pointed up at a dangerous angle, it automatically swivels the horizontal stabilizer and pushes the nose down to prevent stalling. Two optional safety features could have kept the MCAS in check: the angle of attack indicator displays readings from both sensors, and the disagree light activates when the sensors' data do not match. Both features were sold by Boeing as optional extras and were not included on the crashed Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines planes. According to the New York Times, the safety features could have helped pilots detect any erroneous readings. This would have also allowed a manual override of the system. The Times, citing a Boeing bulletin, says this can be done by temporarily counteracting the MCAS movement, cutting off electrical power to the stabilizers, and then cranking a wheel to manually pull them back to the correct position. Experts told the newspaper that the two features are vital for flight safety. But because neither is mandated by the FAA, Boeing was able to sell them as upgrades. The company has since announced that it will make the disagree light standard on all new 737 aircrafts, but the angle of attack indicator will remain an optional extra that airlines can buy. RUNDOWN SHOWS: 1. How the MCAS on the Boeing 737 Max works 2. Depiction of angle of attack indicator and disagree light 3. Safety features sold as extras, not included in crashed Ethiopian and Lion Air planes 4. How the pilot can manually override MCAS VOICEOVER (in English): "According to the New York Times, the MCAS software on the Boeing 737 Max takes readings from one of two angle of attack sensors on the plane that aligns itself with oncoming airflow." "If MCAS detects that the plane is pointed up at a dangerous angle, it automatically swivels the horizontal stabilizer and pushes the nose down to prevent stalling." "Two optional safety features could have kept the MCAS in check: the angle of attack indicator displays readings from both sensors, and the disagree light activates when the sensors' data do not match." "Both features were sold by Boeing as optional extras and were not included on the crashed Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines planes." "According to the New York Times, the safety features could have helped pilots detect any erroneous readings. This would have also allowed a manual override of the system." "The Times, citing a Boeing bulletin, says this can be done by temporarily counteracting the MCAS movement, cutting off electrical power to the stabilizers, and then cranking a wheel to manually pull them back to the correct position." SOURCES: The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/21/bu... https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2... *** ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Next Animation Studio’s News Direct service provides daily, high-quality, informative 3D news animations that fill in for missing footage and help viewers understand breaking news stories or in-depth features on science, technology, and health. Sign up for a free trial of News Direct's news animations at http://newsdirect.nextanimationstudio... To subscribe to News Direct or for more info, please visit: http://newsdirect.nextanimationstudio...
