Boeing Backs Simulator Training for 737 Max Pilots in Reversal

Southwest has had three fatalities in 48 years of operation, and in only one of those was pilot error a contributing factor, so saying their pilot training prioritizes profits over safety is unfounded snark.

commercial simulators are designed to work 18 hours a day, 7 days a week. you can use them more, but eventually you will fall behind with periodic maintenance and certification testing.

IMO the risk of a mistaken activation that leads to an accident is extremely remote with these changes.

The new software now only does a single stabilizer movement. They have eliminated all known failure conditions which might cause multiple movements.

With only a single movement, the pilots will be able to counteract the force.

Two sensors is not quite as good as three sensors. It can't know which sensor is bad. But it can disable itself and prevent unintended activations.

The new software, when combined with adequate pilot simulator training to both disable MCAS when it encounters an issue, and to fly the plane in with MCAS disabled makes things safe enough.

The whole reason the MAX exists is because of Southwest. If southwest didn't throw their weight around and loudly announce they were considering Airbus, the MAX would likely exist in a non-737 configuration right now.

That's why pageandrew said "pilot unions" and not just "pilots". I doubt that SW, for example, is ready to try to break a strike by pilots in order to force the 737 Max back into service.

Which leaves us with pageandrew's comment: "If pilots and pilot unions are satisfied with the results, I'm satisfied with the results."

And if you aren’t aware of what plane is operating your flight then you risk having to cancel very late and re-book a likely much more expensive ticket.

Similarly, driving NYC to LA is vastly less safe than flying from NYC to LA commercially. That doesn't make the roads unsafe.

Also of note, the US Air Force has been refusing delivery of the air tankers Boeing is building because of manufacturing sloppiness. Bad engineering and poor quality manufacturing seems to be a hallmark of Boeing these days.

Choosing not to fly is pretty simple (If you accept that some locations are simply off limits). Flying "another plane" is NOT simple, unless you completely avoid airlines that have MAX8's, or avoid flying where a MAX8 may be used.

The problem is amplified by a few statistical problems: 737-800 is probably the most common jet around. Most (all?) MAX8 operators have 737-800's. That means any time you book a flight where a 737 may be used, it can be either a 737-800 or a MAX8. You can't know.

You can always turn around when you see a MAX8 in your gate, but you can't know when booking that a MAX8 won't be used, even if it says 737-800 when you book. So unless you are ready to turn around in the gate when you see a MAX8, you simply can't book that airline. Depending on whose wedding or what job interview you were flying to, turning around at the gate might not be so appealing either.