Boeing 737 MAX Reading Room

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has created this webpage to make the following categories of documents related to the Boeing 737 MAX available to the public, subject to any applicable FOIA exemptions:

  • Documents requested by members of the public under FOIA related to the Boeing 737 MAX that the FAA has determined are likely to become a subject of subsequent requests for substantially the same records, or that have been requested three or more times; and
  • Records related to the Boeing 737 MAX that have yet to be requested pursuant to FOIA, but that the FAA has determined are nonetheless of sufficient public interest to warrant automatic disclosure to the public.

Most documents are in PDF format and will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print them.


Airworthiness Directive Summary

To address the unsafe conditions that led to the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX, FAA issued an Airworthiness Directive that requires four design changes:

  • Installing new flight control computer software.
    • This change is intended to prevent erroneous MCAS activation, among other safeguards.
  • Installing updated cockpit display system software to generate an AOA disagree alert.
    • This will alert the pilots that the airplane's two AOA sensors are disagreeing by a certain amount indicating a potential AOA sensor failure.
  • Incorporating new and revised operating procedures into the Airplane Flight Manual.
    • This change is intended to ensure the flight crew has the means to recognize and respond to erroneous stabilizer movement and the effects of a potential AOA sensor failure.
  • Changing the routing of horizontal stabilizer trim wires.
    • This is intended to bring the airplane into full compliance with FAA's wire-separation safety standards.
  • In addition to these four design changes, FAA also will require operators to conduct an AOA sensor system test and perform an operational readiness flight prior to returning each airplane to service.

Related Documents


Grounding Order - Emergency Order of Prohibition
 

Testimony, Speeches and Press Releases

FAA Updates on Boeing 737 MAX

Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR)

Flight Standardization Board Reports

Boeing 737 MAX

Report Responses

FAA Safety Hotline Complaints

Last updated: Friday, August 9, 2024