[Text/Observer Network Deng Jun Editor Zhao Qiankun]

According to foreign media reports from Associated Press and Bloomberg, on Wednesday, June 18 (this week), the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released an emergency safety recommendation aimed at addressing smoke issues in the cockpit or cabin of aircraft equipped with CFM International Company's (a joint venture between General Electric Aviation Group and Safran Group) LEAP-1B engines - smoke could cause people to lose their ability to move within seconds or even die.

The announcement released on the NTSB website shows that this recommendation stems from two incidents of cabin smoke in Southwest Airlines' Boeing 737 Max aircraft triggered by bird strikes in 2023. Its investigation indicates that when a bird strike or engine failure triggers the "load relief device" (LRD) function, the engine may inadvertently release oil into high-temperature areas, and the resulting smoke will enter the cockpit or cabin through the air conditioning system. Among them, a left engine failure affects the cockpit, while a right engine failure affects the cabin.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max aircraft Visual China

CNN reported that the aviation industry lists smoke in the cockpit as an extremely dangerous situation, as it may render pilots unable to act.

Bloomberg's report stated that the Leap-1B engines produced by CFM International are not only the sole power option for the 737 Max but also the most widely used engine for the Airbus A320neo series aircraft.

NTSB recommended that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) evaluate similar engine models to determine if there is a similar risk. NTSB also requested the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure operators fully inform crews of the risks and promote software repair solutions.

According to reports from international aviation media Flying Mag, the FAA is considering requiring operators to take temporary measures to manually shut off bleed valves to block the path of smoke propagation.

NTSB further proposed that all affected engine operators should deploy software upgrades jointly developed by CFM and Boeing. Pilots can manually close the intake ports from the engine to the air conditioning system, which helps regulate cabin pressure and ensures passengers and crew receive fresh air. At the same time, airlines should strengthen training for flight crews to ensure they fully understand the potential dangers of smoke-related events involving the load reduction device and corresponding mitigation measures, enhancing their ability to respond to such incidents.

Associated Press mentioned in its report that the FAA stated in a statement that it agrees with NTSB's recommendations.

CFM International responded by saying, "We align with NTSB's recommendations and are closely collaborating with our aircraft manufacturers to enhance the capabilities of this important system." CFM International also confirmed that it is updating the software for the 737 Max engines and will assess similar engine models.

International aviation media simpleflying analyzed that NTSB's announcement adds more pressure to Boeing, which is currently facing multiple challenges.

In terms of market response, influenced by NTSB's announcement, General Electric's stock price fell on June 18, down 0.3%; Boeing's stock price dropped by about 1.3%.

Moreover, at the end of May, Boeing had just announced a significant improvement in production quality and planned to increase the monthly production of 737 Max to 47 units. The market reacted positively, and the stock price surged significantly. However, the Boeing 787 crash incident in India on June 12 has caused Boeing's stock price to plummet rapidly: on the day of the incident, Boeing's pre-market shares fell sharply, once plunging over 8%; after the market opened, Boeing's opening price fell more than 5%, and during the early trading hours, it fell more than 5.9%; by the end of the day, all airline stocks fell across the board, with Boeing falling nearly 5%, marking its largest intraday and closing decline since April 4, wiping out all gains since entering June.

At the Paris Air Show, which opened on June 16, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg canceled his attendance at the event. His rival, Airbus, became the focus of the show, announcing the acquisition of nearly $10 billion in new orders.

This article is an exclusive article of Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7518051886570783272/

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