21 Mar 2019

Ethiopian Airlines Pilot Training Misreporting

Ethiopian Airlines expresses its deep disappointment on the incorrect reporting by the New York Times titled, “Ethiopian Airlines Had a Max 8 Simulator, but Pilot on Doomed Flight Didn’t Receive Training”

Before phasing in the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, Ethiopian Airlines pilots completed both the Boeing recommended and FAA approved training.

Our pilots, who are among the highest trained in the world, are fully aware and briefed on the Emergency Airworthiness Directive issued by the FAA following the Lion Air Accident.

The content of the airworthiness directive has been incorporated in all pilot training manuals, operational procedures and working manuals.

The B-737 MAX full flight simulator is not designed to simulate the MCAS system problems.

We urge all concerned to refrain from making uninformed, incorrect, irresponsible and misleading statements during the period of the accident investigation.

International regulations require all stakeholders to wait patiently for the result of the investigation.