Boeing recognizes that the 737 Max 8 "is not suitable" at some airports

Before shock of a 737 Max 8 plane from Ethiopian Airlines after its takeoff from Addis Ababa last month, Boeing Co. said in a legal document that the huge and updated 737 "can not be used in what is called" high or hot "airports. At a height of 505 meters (7,657 feet), or more than a mile in height, the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa falls into this category.

High altitudes require longer runways and faster speeds to take off. The altitude of the Ethiopian airport was not cited as a factor in the fall of flight 302 and probably did not cause the accident. But that could have exacerbated the situation since the performance of an aircraft decreases to greater heights, said a 737 pilot He flies to high-altitude airports like Denver, who agreed to talk about the substance.

Data released last week on the flight to Ethiopia indicated that pilots had not reduced the speed of the plane after takeoff, whereas they should have done so. The preliminary report on the disaster indicated that the aircraft 's anti – lock system was twirling the aircraft in less than two minutes during the flight due to a sensor failure. The pilots struggled to control the aircraft while diving on the ground at a speed of 575 miles (925 kilometers) per hour..

"The faster the aircraft moves forward, the more air forces on its wings and control surfaces, forcing pilots to be more powerful in taking control," said commercial pilot Robert Mark. and Editor-in-Chief at Flight Magazine. A spokesman for Boeing said that the airport of Addis Ababa could accommodate large planes thanks to the length of its runways.

"Difficult airports"

Boeing said in a brief report in the commercial case that the "The 737 Max 7 offers better performance in challenging airports. In particular, the 737 Max 7 can serve some "hot or hot" airports and has a wider reach outside of restricted aerodromes. "The report then quotes a number of these airports, whose names were written, in which 7 may fly, but that" 8, 9 and 10 can not ".

"The biggest variants of the 737 can not be used in so-called" high or hot "airports, according to the report. Some American airports are not suitable for Max 8 "because of the combination of short runways, elevation, temperature, humidity and other environmental conditions". Bob Mann, aviation consultant, said that airlines generally use a smaller earlier version of the Boeing aircraft, the 737-700, at higher altitudes, as this aircraft generally displays a "better speed of ascent "as the Max 8.