Boeing has formally withdrawn its request for a federal exemption concerning the Stall Management Yaw Damper (SMYD) system on its 737 MAX 7 aircraft, stating that it will now meet all applicable safety standards without exception. The decision marks a significant reversal from the company’s earlier position in 2023, when it sought relief from FAA regulations related to aircraft systems’ resilience against lightning strikes and High-Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF).
The SMYD system, a critical flight component, assesses stall conditions and issues alerts to pilots via systems such as the stick shaker. Boeing originally petitioned for an exemption due to software limitations that did not comply with two specific parts of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. Despite being based on hardware consistent with previous 737 models, the SMYD software required updates for the MAX 7 variant.
In September 2023, the FAA granted a temporary exemption through March 1, 2027. However, Boeing has since rescinded the request, stating it will now demonstrate full compliance with the rules. The company’s decision aligns with feedback from industry watchdogs, including the Foundation for Aviation Safety and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), both of which raised concerns about certifying the aircraft with substandard safety assurance levels.
The change comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Boeing’s certification practices following the fatal MAX 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019. As part of broader corrective measures, Boeing has been working to elevate the SMYD’s software certification from Design Assurance Level B to the more rigorous Level A under ARP4754A guidelines.
This move to comply fully without relying on exemptions signals Boeing’s intent to rebuild trust with regulators and customers alike. It also sets a precedent for the upcoming certifications of the 737 MAX 10 and the enhanced and non-enhanced Angle of Attack (EAOA) systems, which remain under FAA evaluation.
Swifteradio.com
