Pilots flying for US carrier American Airlines (AA) have accused plane builder Boeing of not going far enough to address training issues associated with the troubled 737 MAX passenger aircraft after two deadly accidents left 378 dead.
New draft training proposals submitted by Boeing do not address core concerns of pilots and do not go far enough to rebuild trust in the plane, according to a letter filed by pilots with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), cited by Reuters.
The accusations were submitted by the US-based Allied Pilots Association (APA). The APA represents American Airlines pilots, the world's largest airline. AA has one of the largest fleets of 737 MAX aircraft in the US.
The entire global output of Boeing's popular 737 MAX aircraft was grounded in March after the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight killed all 157 on board. The tragedy occurred a mere five months after the almost-identical crash of a Lion Air flight saw all 189 passengers and crew killed.
The Seattle-based aerospace giant is now jockeying for quick new regulatory approval as well as a training package and software update to fix the 737's MCAS anti-stall system after it was found that software errors and inadequate training were responsible for both crashes.
An FAA draft report supported by Boeing concluded that 737 pilots only require additional computer-based training but do not require more time-intensive and expensive time on flight simulators.
Protests are expected on Monday during the aerospace company's annual stockholder meeting in Chicago and shareholders are also expected to question company officers over reports of the company stonewalling key information after initial claims about the 737's safety went public.
737 MAX retraining, according to the APA, must include simulator session video detailing the MCAS platform, as well as other cockpit emergency demonstrations including one for the runaway stabilizer — the primary reason for the loss of control that doomed both flights.
The APA also called for regular simulator training that would pointedly include the scenario experienced by the pilots of the lost aircraft.
"When pilots visually experience the failure modes and then apply them, the lesson is cemented in their minds," stated the APA in their request, according to Reuters.
Simulator training would slow the reintroduction of the 737 MAX to regular service, while costing the manufacturer millions of dollars to expand training that would include hefty hourly fees for the simulator as well as travel expenses.
Nonetheless, AA — regardless how the more cautious international air carrier community reacts — will immediately reintroduce the problematic aircraft into regular service the moment the FAA approves the move, according to Reuters.
