The FAA will not want to take immediate action on the 737 MAX engine after the birds were shot down by Reuters

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Federal Aviation Administration said on Tuesday it did not want to take immediate action after calling for an inspection body to consider concerns about Boeing’s (NYSE: ) 737 MAX engines after two Southwest Airlines (NYSE: ) 2023 bird incidents.

FAA regulation Activities (WA:) The Review Board reviewed the CFM LEAP-1B engine crashes that caused smoke to enter two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The agency determined that the matter does not require immediate action and the FAA will follow its own regulatory procedures to resolve it, the agency said.

“The FAA continues to evaluate the impact this may have on other engines of similar design,” the agency said, adding that it would provide foreign air traffic controllers with information on “the new information Boeing provided to pilots with LEAP-1B engines.”

The FAA has been considering new ways for aircraft to shut off air to one or both engines to combat the potential for bird strikes and prevent smoke from entering the cockpit.

Fixed-wing production could extend the delay to Boeing’s MAX 7 and MAX 10 certification.

Reuters reported last week that the FAA was considering whether a change in policy would be necessary to address the problem, which has become increasingly rare for pilots to have a permanent solution to the problem.

Boeing said on Tuesday it continues to “pursue the best possible regulatory measures to ensure the global fleet continues to operate.”

Southwest Airlines said Tuesday it had informed pilots about the effects of bird strikes after the two incidents and “reiterated the importance of following the safety measures that are part of regular pilot training.”

Southwest said it continues to work with “developers and security operators to find a sustainable solution.”

The Seattle Times reported that the design changes may include software changes to change what happens to the air valves when the engine blade explodes due to bird strikes or other reasons.

CFM, the world’s largest engine manufacturer by units sold, is owned by GE Aerospace and Saffron (EPA:). GE Aerospace said it “supports the FAA’s decision and will continue to work closely with Boeing and regulators.”

Last week, the National Transportation Safety Board said it had opened an investigation into the Southwest Airlines bird strike and subsequent smokestack that occurred near New Orleans in December 2023.

Another incident occurred on a Southwest Airlines flight in March 2023 that took off from Havana when a bird strike caused smoke to fill the cabin.

Boeing in February published a document to inform pilots about the potential and possible consequences of an engine failure.

Boeing’s 737 MAX 7 and 10 are being delayed as the planemaker struggles to deal with anti-icing systems that could overheat and cause engine failure before the planes are certified.