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How Boeing's Jet was Deemed Safe Gets a Closer Look
波音飛機安全認證內情引密切關注
As regulators at the Federal Aviation Administration reviewed designs for Boeing’s newest passenger jet,
美國聯邦航空管理局的監管人員審查波音最新客機的設計時，
they paid extra attention to several features, including the lithium batteries, the pressure fueling system and the inflatable safety slides.
他們特別留意了包括鋰電池、壓力加油系統和充氣安全滑梯等特征。
One feature that did not receive exceptional scrutiny: a new software system intended to prevent stalls.
但有一個特征沒有被特別審查，這個特征就是該機型上預防失速的一款新的軟件系統。
That same software is suspected of playing a role in two deadly crashes involving the same jet, the Boeing 737 Max.
而這一軟件疑似在兩起致命墜機事件，都涉及了波音737 Max這一機型，中都發揮了一定的作用。
Authorities around the world are now taking a closer look at the jet’s approval by the F.A.A.,
目前，世界各地的有關部門都在密切關注這架飛機是如何獲得聯邦航空管理局的批準的問題，
a process that relies heavily on Boeing employees to certify the safety of the plane.
而獲得聯邦航空管理局的批準又嚴重依賴于波音員工對飛機安全性的認證。
The 737 Max was one of the first commercial jets approved under new rules,
播音737 Max是在新規定下拿到批準的首批商用機型之一，
which delegated more authority to Boeing than had been the case when most previous planes were certified.
而新規定賦予波音的權力比以往大多數飛機獲得認證時所獲得的權力要大。
And the software system did not raise warnings during the approval process.
而且，該軟件系統在審批過程中也沒有引發警告。
Top F.A.A. officials, who are briefed on significant safety issues, were not aware of the software system,
聯邦航空管理局的高級官員，如果有重大安全問題是會向他們匯報的，對這個軟件系統并不知情，
according to three people with knowledge of the process.
據三位知情人士透露。
The United States transportation secretary, Elaine L. Chao, on Tuesday called for her agency’s internal watchdog to open an inquiry into the process,
周二，交通部長趙小蘭要求交通部的內部監督機構對審批過程展開調查，
saying that “safety is the top priority of the department.”
她說：“安全是我們交通部的第一要務。”
Lawmakers in the United States are similarly pushing for a review,
加拿大已經開始就他們對這架飛機獲得的美國認證的認可展開調查，
while Canada is looking into its approval of the plane’s American certification.
美國國內的立法者們同樣也在推動一項審查工作。
The scrutiny adds to the pressure at Boeing, an aerospace giant with a strong safety record.
這一輪審查進一步加大了波音公司的壓力，因為這家航空巨頭原本有著良好的安全記錄。
The 737 Max, its best-selling jet, has more than 4,600 pending orders,
波音最暢銷的737 Max機型如今還有4600多個待執行的訂單，
which are expected to bring in hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming years.
這些訂單預計將在未來幾年內給波音帶來數千億美元的收入。
The plane is now grounded as the company races to come up with a fix to the software.
該機型現已停飛，波音公司也在加緊修復該軟件。
It is unclear when the jet will start flying again.
目前還不清楚這架飛機何時才能再次起飛。
A spokesman for Boeing said the manufacturer would cooperate with the audit by the Department of Transportation.
波音公司某發言人表示，該公司會配合美國交通部的審計。
It has defended the certification process for the jet,
該公司也為這架飛機的安全認證過程進行了辯護，
saying that “the 737 Max was certified in accordance with the identical F.A.A. requirements and processes that have governed certification of all previous new airplanes and derivatives.”
稱“737 Max是根據聯邦航空管理局認證此前所有新飛機和衍生品的那些要求和流程認證的。”
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