VOA慢速英语--US Government Ends Boeing 737 MAX Flight Ban

After two deadly crashes and nearly two years of investigation¹, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cleared Boeing's 737 Max jet for flight.

The U.S. air safety agency announced the move early Wednesday. It said the decision comes after a complete and methodical 20-month review process.

Air safety agencies around the world grounded the 737 Max in March 2019 following the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight. That happened less than five months after another Max, flown by Indonesia's Lion Air, crashed in the Java Sea. A total of 346 people on both planes were killed.

On Wednesday, FAA chief Stephen Dickson signed an order to cancel the grounding, the longest in commercial aviation history. U.S. airlines are permitted to fly the Max after the Boeing Company changes computers and computer software on each plane. In addition, the company will offer training to pilots on how to fly the aircraft.

The FAA said its decision on the 737 Max was made in cooperation with air safety agencies worldwide. Agencies in Europe, Brazil, Canada and China are likely to announce their own approvals separately after independent investigations².

Criticism of the FAA and Boeing

The U.S. move follows congressional hearings on the crashes. The hearings led to criticism of FAA officials for weak oversight³ and having close ties to Boeing. The company was criticized for being in a hurry to set up a software system that put profits over safety. In time, the investigation led to the dismissal of Boeing's chief executive officer.

Investigators⁴ studied anti-stall software that Boeing had developed to keep the 737 Max balanced when flying. That software pushed the nose of the aircraft down repeatedly on both of the planes that crashed. In each case, a single sensor⁵ caused the problem.

The FAA required Boeing to change the software program so it does not repeatedly point the nose of the plane down. Boeing says the new software does not override⁶, or ignore, the pilot's controls like it did in the past. The company also must add new display systems for pilots and change wiring inside the plane.

The decision on the 737 Max comes in the middle of a health crisis that has frightened away passengers and hurt the aviation industry. Air travel in the United States alone is down about 65 percent from a year ago.

Boeing sales of new planes have dropped because of the 737 Max crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 400 Max jets were in service worldwide when they were grounded. Boeing has built and stored about 450 more since then.

Reuters news agency estimates the company has lost about $20 billion in expected sales.

Reaction to the decision

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor John Hansman teaches classes on the science of flight. He noted⁷ that people generally avoid airplanes for a few months after there are problems. The Max case is unusual, but Hansman said he would feel safe flying on a Max.

"The whole thing has had more scrutiny⁸ than any airplane in the world," he said. "It's probably the safest airplane to be on."

Boeing still faces legal action from families of crash victims.

Families of the Ethiopian crash victims said in a statement that they felt renewed grief after the FAA's decision to return the aircraft to service.

Naoise Ryan's husband was on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, which crashed on March 10, 2019. "Our family was broken," she said on Tuesday. "We are suffering and we'll most likely continue to suffer for a very long time, if not for the rest of our lives."

Words in This Story

review – n. an examination of something; a report on something

commercial – adj. involving or concerned with business

software – n. the programs and other operating information used by a computer

stall – v. to stop or cause to stop

display – n. an event or performance; something meant to be seen

grief – n. deep sadness

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

3 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

4 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 sensor   

n.传感器，探测设备，感觉器（官）

参考例句：

• The temperature sensor is enclosed in a protective well.温度传感器密封在保护套管中。
• He plugged the sensor into a outlet.他把传感器插进电源插座。

6 override   

vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于

参考例句：

• The welfare of a child should always override the wishes of its parents.孩子的幸福安康应该永远比父母的愿望来得更重要。
• I'm applying in advance for the authority to override him.我提前申请当局对他进行否决。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。