Following an incident where more than 50 people were injured due to a sudden mid-air dive of a LATAM Airlines 787 plane, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced its intention to convene a board of experts. The board will assess Boeing's proposed guidance to 787 Dreamliner operators regarding flight deck switches.
The Air Current, a publication focused on the aviation industry, revealed that the investigation into the incident on Monday is particularly scrutinizing the movement of a flight deck seat.
In response to the incident, Boeing stated earlier on Friday that it had taken a precautionary step by reminding operators of a service bulletin issued in 2017. This bulletin outlines instructions for inspecting and maintaining flight deck seat switches. Boeing recommended that operators conduct an inspection at their next maintenance opportunity.
However, the FAA has opted to convene a Corrective Action Review Board (CARB) to evaluate Boeing's proposed Multi-Operator Message (MOM) concerning the LATAM Flight 800 incident before its issuance. Boeing has yet to provide an update on the status of its MOM.
The FAA's review process will encompass an examination of the 2017 service bulletin related to the switches in the pilot seats. The agency aims to provide feedback to Boeing before the issuance of any guidance. Additionally, the FAA has affirmed its commitment to closely monitor the situation as it unfolds.
