Boeing 737 MAX aircraft engines require caution due to smoke in cockpits, as per recommendations from the US safety board.

Boeing 737 MAX aircraft engines require caution due to smoke in cockpits, as per recommendations from the US safety board.

Air Safety Alert: Smoke in 737 MAX Cabins after Bird Strikes

Boom! Two Southwest Airlines 737 MAX planes encountered some turbulence in 2023, courtesy of bird strikes. As a result, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued an urgent safety recommendation to tackle the potential issue of smoke entering the cockpit and cabin of these aircraft. The culprit? CFM International LEAP-1B engines used on Boeing 737 MAX jets.

But that's not all. The NTSB suggests evaluating if similar problems could surface with LEAP-1A and LEAP-1C engines, which power some Airbus A320neo variants and COMAC's Chinese-made C919 jets.

The NTSM calls for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure operators keep flight crews informed about planes sporting those engines. Southwest addressed the matter promptly, reviewing the recommendations and already having safety protocols in place.

CFM, the world's largest engine manufacturer, is co-owned by GE Aerospace and Safran. The NTSB insists it's crucial for pilots flying planes with LEAP-1B engines to be aware of the risk of smoke in the cockpit if the load reduction device (LRD) is activated during critical flight stages like takeoff or landing.

Brace for impact! If the LRD activates following a bird strike, smoke could invade the flight deck. Don't worry, both the FAA and Boeing agree with the NTSB's recommendations. Boeing noted that CFM and Boeing are working on a software design update designed to nip this issue in the bud, hoping for a completion date sometime soon.

Now, about those sighed responses from GE, Airbus, and COMAC... Maybe they're still busy crafting the perfect response, or perhaps they're just taking a deep breath before diving into this conversation.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the Civil Aviation Administration of China, however, remain tight-lipped about the potential vulnerability of other LEAP engine variants when an LRD activates.

For those keeping tracks, the FAA had convened a review board in November 2024 to consider concerns about Boeing 737 MAX engines following two bird strike incidents involving the CFM LEAP-1B. The FAA was mulling new takeoff procedures to prevent smoke from entering the cockpit, but a decision seems to be on hold for now.

And that's not the whole story. The NTSB launched an investigation in 2024 into a smoke incident in a Southwest flight that had taken off from New Orleans, while another similar incident occurred in March 2023 on a flight departing Havana.

In light of these developments, Boeing published a bulletin in February 2024 to help flight crews handle potential smoke issues in the flight deck and cabin after severe engine damage. So buckle up, folks! With a little bit of luck and permanent solutions on the horizon, we can all enjoy a smoother flight.

[1] References[2] Additional Source

1. The NTSB's urgent safety recommendations extend beyond Boeing 737 MAX jets, urging the evaluation of potential issues with LEAP-1A and LEAP-1C engines, which are also used in Airbus A320neo variants and COMAC's C919 jets.
2. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the Civil Aviation Administration of China have yet to comment on the potential vulnerability of other LEAP engine variants when the load reduction device (LRD) is activated.
3. The aerospace industry, particularly the finance and transportation sectors, need to focus on addressing the risks of smoke in cockpits and cabins, especially in planes with LEAP-1B engines, following the incidents involving bird strikes in the aviation industry.

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