The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reportedly issued an Airworthiness Directive regarding the potential reduced fire suppression problem on Boeing 737 MAX and 737 new generation (NG) aircraft.
Due to the “failed electronic flow control of the air conditioning packs” that blow air into the cargo hold from various places in the aircraft , the AD forbids carrying freight in the holds “unless they can verify items are nonflammable and noncombustible”, Reuters reported on August 6, 2021.
663 aircraft in the United States and about 2,204 aircraft worldwide are affected by this airworthiness directive.
This is the second time in five months that the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is affected by the Airworthiness Directive. In April 2021, the FAA issued an AD requiring Boeing to address the “unsafe condition” of certain Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The move came after Boeing called on 16 737 MAX operators to address the electrical problem.
The investigation of certain Boeing 737 MAX aircraft identified insufficient bonding of certain “metallic support panel assemblies installed in two areas of the flight deck, which affects the electrical grounding of installed equipment”.
As per FAA estimates, the Airworthiness Directive affected 71 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operating in the US.
