March 24, 2019 
Pilots transitioning to the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft from older 737 models were given a short, self-administered online course that made no mention of a new system now at the center of two crash investigations, pilots’ unions spokesmen for two American carriers told CNN.
Pilots of Southwest Airlines and American Airlines took courses — lasting between 56 minutes and three hours — that highlighted differences between the Max 8 and older 737s, but did not explain the new maneuvering characteristics augmentation system, know as MCAS, the spokesmen said.
The system, designed to automatically command a plane to pitch down if it senses an imminent stall, has become the focus of October’s Lion Air crash of a 737 Max 8, and experts say it could become a major factor in the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed 157 people earlier this month.
“The course was not instructor-led. It was self-administered,” said Mike Trevino, a spokesman for the union that represents pilots of Southwest Airlines. The set course took pilots approximately three hours to complete, Trevino said. The 8,500 pilots of Southwest Airlines exclusively fly the 737, and it is the world’s largest operator of the 737 Max 8, employing 34 of the aircraft.
“MCAS was installed in the aircraft and Boeing didn’t disclose that to the pilots,” said Trevino, while adding that Southwest pilots are experienced with 737s. “It’s not flying a whole new aircraft. It’s still a 737.”
– CNN
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