Federal aviation regulators say the recertification process for Boeing's troubled 737 Max jets isn't being held up over concerns that the average pilot isn't strong enough to turn an emergency crank on the plane.
reported Wednesday that the review process was being delayed, at least in part, over the difficulty in operating the plane's trim wheel system, which is a manual crank that turns a horizontal panel on the aircraft's tail to change the angle of the plane's nose.
In emergency situations, like high speeds and steep angles, turning that crank can require a lot of physical force to operate. The Journal reported that regulators are concerned about whether female pilots — who typically tend to have less upper body strength than men — might struggle to turn the crank in emergencies.
Neither Boeing nor regulators anticipate design or equipment changes as a result from the review, the Journal said, citing people familiar with the issue.
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