Airlines, Boeing Resist Rudder Monitoring Proposal

After the FAA proposed a requirements for closer monitoring of rudder performance on 737s, both airlines and Boeing are resisting it, citing the design changes and other measures prompted by the 1991 crash in Colorado and a 1994 crash in Pennsylvania. They reject the FAA plan to update flight data recorders to capture new information by 2008. With ATA carriers operating more than 1,180 737s, the ATA said more than 800 would not meet the new requirements even as all have the redesigned rudder systems or received rudder upgrades since 1999. Those that have not received the new rudder design are scheduled to get it within the next two years. While airlines support extra monitoring, they oppose the additional FDR work. The National Transportation Safety Board wants the FDR information to ensure the redesign works and other problems are spotted early.