rickair7777

You cannot "opt out" of the AOA sensors on modern transport aircraft, they feed data to too many other functions. I doubt you could certify a jet without them.

Apparently you can get optional displays for the pilots. But either way, other systems still need AOA data.

Regularguy

The article is another example of poorly researched and what some call "fake news." As many state ALL airliners have AOA sensors which feed data to the FDC for various functions including the stall warning.

An AOA gage or indicator could be used as a replacement for airspeed on approaches, but if the AOA sensor has failed it too provides failed data and, while I don't know what Boeing offers, I would bet the AOA indicator would yellow out with a failed indication.

Again the article is just hyperbole to sell ads and bring in readers with the latest gossip.

JoePatroni

That makes more sense.

APC225

The bad optics will remain. "Others elected to buy two safety features, United did not," is what this article says. After the intense scrutiny of this system I think it’s likely Boeing will supply them for free or the FAA will require them. If not, United will have to continue to answer the question of why they don’t have them and "we don’t need them" probably won’t work as time goes on.

echoaviation

I don’t see where the article mentions these aircraft not having the AOA sensors. Just the additional information concerning what the sensors are telling the pilots.
1. AOA indicator
2. AOA disagree indication

The article also sheds light on the pervasiveness of “safety as a luxury” in aircraft engineering.

flightmedic01

Common sense will not be tolerated. In fact, it will be punished!!

HercAC

United opted for a Sterile Light in lieu of the AOA indicator (small gage in the upper corner of the PFD) and HUD

DashTrash

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/20/boeing-drops-on-report-fbi-is-joining-criminal-investigation-into-certification-of-boeing-737-max.html?__source=facebook%7Cmain

Things could get interesting for Boeing???

baseball

It could get interesting for the FAA as well.

Regularguy

I guess I didn’t make myself clear, my take on the article is these two items were being considered as possibly able to prevent the accidents. I’m calling BS, neither of these two items would have prevented the MCAS false input, they would not have alerted the crew of a failed AOA sensor any more than the loss of airspeed on the Captain’s PFD and neither would have alerted the crew to follow a procedure right after takeoff that wasn’t trained.

AOA indicators have been available for the entire time I been in this industry and, with a small exception, have not been purchased by the airlines.

In the case of a failed sensor the AOA indicators on a modern PFD would probably go yellow and indicate lack of data. Or it would have indicated a stall condition the MCAS responded to.

No matter what it is fake/hyperbolic reporting trying to find another answer to Boeing and the FAA’s joint failure in certification and training requirements.