In February 2021 I was asked by the Royal Aeronautical Society to give a presentation about the story behind the 737 MAX accidents and MCAS. Due to COVID resrictions the presentation had to be given remotely rather than in-person. This meant that it was all recorded and I was able to share the presentation to my website visitors here.
Since then I have gone on to produce more videos covering various technical subjects on the 737. They are all available on my YouTube channel and direct links to them all are given here.
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A short history of the 737 MAX and MCAS from development to fix. Presented to the Royal Aeronautical Society 4th Feb 2021
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A detailed look at MCAS on the 737 MAX
This presentation takes a close look at the details of MCAS on the 737 MAX, how it came about, what changes were made and how it now works. This presentation does not discuss the management decisions by Boeing, the FAA oversight, the blame games or the regulations put into place since the accidents. This is all covered in my first presentation “The 737 MAX and MCAS from development to fix".
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737 Max Differences
A detailed look at the differences between the 737 MAX and the 737 NG
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737 BBJ
This video describes the history and development of the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), its unique features and differences from regular airline 737s. Contents: History, Versions, Differences from NG / MAX, Completion, Winglets, Performance, Cabin Interior, Comms / IFE, Fuel, Air Systems, HUD/EVS, FMC Options.
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Alternate Forward CG option
This video describes the theory and practical application of the Alternate Forward Center of Gravity option for the 737 NG and MAX. As usual this video takes you beyond the FCOMs and should prove interesting to anybody using AFCG or considering getting this option from Boeing. Contents: Introduction, Theory, Series Differences, In Practice, Choosing Limit Positions, OPT Configuration, OPT Examples, FMC Speeds .
CVR, FDR, ELT, LF-ULB, DFDAU & QAR
This video covers the CVR, FDR, ELT, LF-ULB, DFDAU and QAR on the 737. It also discusses the use of ACMS data within an airline and how hard landings are measured.
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FMC
This video covers the FMC on the 737. Contents: Evolution of the FMC, Overview, FMC Hardware, Dual FMCs, CDU / MCDU, Alerts & Annunciators, CDU BITE, Inputs, Databases, Data Loading, Maintenance pages.
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FMC Update 10.0 to 10.2A
This is the first of a 4-part series illustrating the development of the Boeing 737 FMC. This should be of interest to anybody using the current FMC update as it explains the various features and options as they were introduced and developed.
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FMC Update 10.3 to 10.5A
This is the second of a 4-part series illustrating the development of the Boeing 737 FMC. This should be of interest to anybody using the current FMC update as it explains the various features and options as they were introduced and developed.
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FMC Update 10.6 to 10.8A
This is the third of a 4-part series illustrating the development of the Boeing 737 FMC. This should be of interest to anybody using the current FMC update as it explains the various features and options as they were introduced and developed.
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FMC Update 11 to 14.1
This is the last of my 4-part series describing the development of the Boeing 737 FMC software by explaining and illustrating the various features and options as they were introduced and developed. This part brings the story right up to date by covering update 11 to update 14 and also gives a preview of the soon to be released update 14.1.
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Freighters
This describes the history and development of Boeing 737 freighters from the 737-200C through to the 737-800BCF. It also covers all third-party conversions by AEI, Pemco and IAI, describing the specific technical and operational differences between cargo 737s and passenger versions.
Contents: Versions, Economics, Converters, Differences from Pax Aircraft, Main Cargo Doors, Flightdeck Differences, Fire & Smoke Protection, Horse Freighters, Loading and Weight & Balance, Operation & Documentation.
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Gravel Runway Operations
This presentation covers all aspects of gravel and unpaved runway operations on the 737. Including Landing surface requirements, External modifications, Flight deck controls & indications, Operational procedures and limitations.
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Pneumatics
The first of the air systems videos - watch before Air Conditioning and Pressurisation
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Air Conditioning
The second of the air systems videos - watch after Pneumatics and before Pressurisation
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Pressurisation
The last of the air systems videos - watch after Pneumatics and Air Conditioning
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APU
The 737 APU
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Side Cargo Door Open In-flight
Video of and details about operations with the side cargo door open.
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Electrical Bonding
This video discusses the recent news story about the 737 MAX electrical bonding issue that has lead to the grounding of 120 MAX aircraft in April 2021.
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Electrics - AC
A detailed look at the Boeing 737 Electrical System. This is Part 1, focusing on the AC System, Load shedding, Flightdeck panels, Metering and diagnostics.
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Electrics - DC & Standby
A detailed look at the Boeing 737 Electrical System. This is Part 2, focusing on the DC System, Standby System, Faults & diagnostics and Circuit breakers.
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Powerplant
A detailed look at the Boeing 737 powerplants from JT8D to LEAP
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Landing Gear
A detailed look at the Boeing 737 landing gear
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Landing Gear - Guided Tour (Cl)
This video is different to my previous ones because I actually show you the landing gear system in situ. I take you around the main and nose landing gear showing you the significant components and explaining their function as I go. For this video I use a 737 Classic, there are some minor differences between the Classics and NGs which are explained in the accompanying presentation on Landing Gear. Hopefully I will be able to film a version on the NG soon.
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Landing Gear - Antiskid Inop
Following the recent video of a tyre fire following a landing with anti-skid inop, this video looks at the various technical and operational considerations about this system.
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Lights
This covers all of the many lighting systems on the Boeing 737. As usual there is something in here for everybody from aspiring pilots and engineers through to the most experienced.
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A/T Flap Synchro
In this video I take a detailed look at the 737 Classic autothrottle computer issues discovered during the investigation of Sriwijaya Air SJ182 at Jakarta on 9 Jan 2021. It covers the A/T design, Boeings MOM and the FAA AD’s.
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Ice and Rain Protection
In this video I take a detailed look at the 737 Ice and Rain including: Panels, Window heat, TAI, Ice detection, Icing, Non-environmental icing, Wipers, & Rain Repellent
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P8 Poseidon
In this video I take a break from aircraft systems and take a look at the subhunter version of the 737 known as the P-8 Poseidon. In this video I cover external and internal features, flightdeck differences from the NG and all known derivatives & increments of the P-8 Poseidon.
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Fire Protection
This video covers the Fire Protection systems on all generations of 737. Maybe not the sexiest of subjects but hopefully I have made it interesting. I think everybody will learn a few things from this that they didn’t already know about the 737.
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Hydraulics - Wheel-well tour
This video is the first of two on the 737 hydraulic system. In this video I give you a guided tour of the 737 wheel-well identifying and explaining all of the hydraulic components that are visible. In the second part, which I will release next week, I will go through the full hydraulic systems in much more detail.
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Hydraulics
This is part two of 737 hydraulics. In this video I go deep into the systems, showing you, and explaining the function of, the parts of the system that the FCOMs leave out to give you a full understanding of the subject.
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Flight Controls - Roll and Speedbrakes
This is the first in of a 3-part series on Boeing 737 Flight Controls. This one covers roll control and also speedbrakes.
This video is the third of the 3-part series on Boeing 737 Flight Controls. This one covers pitch.
Contents: Stabiliser, elevators and neutral shift
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The Rudder Story
This video explains the rudder issues that beset the 737 in the 1990s. I take you through the accidents, investigations, contrasting opinions, design changes and the many QRH changes that the 737 rudder system has gone through, that all started with two mysterious accidents in the early 1990s for which no conclusive evidence was ever found. I also explain how those events led to a complete reformat of the QRH, the introduction of upset recovery training, and FDR improvements..
Contents: UA585, Colorado Springs, The Original Rudder System, The Second Accident US427, Pittsburgh, Critical Design Review, Boeing Yaw Damper Article, Eastwind 517, NTSB Intervention, First QRH Change, Blowdown & Crossover Speed, Reaction to the NTSB Recommendations, More ADs, First Design Changes, Two More Incidents, US427 Report Published, Block Speeds Increased, Engineering Test and Evaluation Board, Rudder System Enhancement Program, Evolution of QRH Procedures, FDR Development, Flight Ops Tech Bulletin, Final Thoughts.
Since 1959 there have been 18 fuel tank explosions on transport category aircraft. The many causes include lightning, wiring defects and heating of fuel vapours in the center tank. Following the TWA800 accident, the FAA produced Special FAR 88 in 2001 and the Fuel Tank Flammability Reduction (FTFR) Rule in 2008 both of which mandated extensive safety improvements to fuel systems. As 737 pilots we have seen the effects of this in changes to center tank pump design and operation, and the introduction of NGS. In this video I will cover the background to these changes in more detail, the ensuing regulation and NGS in depth.
Contents Intro & Overview; The accidents; Flammability reduction; Removal of ignition sources; Center tank pump changes; Fuel tank inerting; NGS on the 737; Summary & timeline
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PSEU
The 737 PSEU.
This is a detailed description of the mysterious Proximity Switch Electronic Unit on the 737 NG & MAX.
Contents: Origins, PSEU & SPSEU, MAX Differences, Switches & Sensors, Air-ground systems, Airstairs control & warning, Door warnings & flightlocks, LGTU, Take-off & landing configuration warnings, Landing gear position indicating and warning, Speedbrake deployed indication and warning, Two-position tailskid, Crew procedures, Problems and updates
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Doors
The 737 doors.
This is a detailed description of the doors on all series of the 737.
A detailed explanation of the components and layout of the 737 E & E Bay, Forward Equip Bay and other equipment racks on the aircraft. In addition to my standard presentation format I have included 3 "Video tours" of the E & E Bay, Forward Equip Bay and an example BITE check.
Contents: E & E Bay General, Junction Boxes, Moisture Protection, Equipment Cooling, Batteries, Racks, E & E Bay Video Tour, E6 Rack, Auxiliary Fuel Equipment Rack, Forward Equipment Bay, BITE Testing.
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Flaps and Slats
This video covers the evolution, operation and mechanics of the flaps, slats and the FSEU.
Contents: LE Flaps, LE Slats, TE Flaps, TE Flap Mechanics, Flap & Slat Power, FSEU, Flap Limit Speeds and Load Relief, Flap Speed Schedule.
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737 NG Performance Improvement Package
This presentation details the changes made to the Boeing 737 NG with the introduction of the Performance Improvement Package in 2011/2.
Videos Instructional videos about the 737
