Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

The FAA on Friday confirmed that it has issued an airworthiness directive&nbsp;(AD) requiring inspections for all Boeing 737 airliners to address possible failures of cabin altitude pressure switches. If both of the pressurization system’s dual switches were to fail during an inflight depressurization event, this could result in the cabin altitude warning system not activating&nbsp;if cabin altitude exceeds 10,000 feet, causing oxygen levels to be dangerously low.

 


The AD requires operators to conduct repetitive tests of the cabin altitude pressure switches&nbsp;and replace faulty switches. It applies to all 2,502 U.S.-registered 737s and 9,315 aircraft worldwide, with the tests to be performed within 2,000 flight hours of the last test of the switches, before the airplane has flown 2,000 hours or within 90 days of the AD being issued.

 


Acknowledging the new AD, Boeing issued the following statement: “Safety is our highest priority, and we fully support the FAA’s direction, which makes mandatory the inspection interval that we issued to the fleet in June.”

 


The <a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2021-15391.pdf?utm_source=federalregister.gov&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=pi+subscription+mailing+list">AD</a> is unrelated to any of the issues around return-to-service requirements or flight control system recertification for Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft. It is not understood to have been implemented in response to an actual dual-switch failure event.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

FAA Calls For Boeing 737 Cabin Pressure Switch Inspections

An FAA airworthiness directive was issued to assess the risk of dual-switch failures in 737 airliner cabin pressure systems. 

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News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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