According to the WSJ, and taken up by CNBC, it now seems the AoA disagree functionality in the Max airframes belonging to SWA was DISABLED, and some FAA officials contemplated grounding the plane.
Southwest Airline’s statement:
Upon delivery (prior to the Lion Air event), the AOA Disagree lights were depicted to us by Boeing as operable on all MAX aircraft, regardless of the selection of optional AOA Indicators on the Primary Flight Display (PFD). The manual documentation presented by Boeing at Southwest’s MAX entry into service indicated the AOA Disagree Light functioned on the aircraft, similar to the Lights on our NG series. After the Lion Air event, Boeing notified us that the AOA Disagree Lights were inoperable without the optional AOA Indicators on the MAX aircraft. At that time, Southwest installed the AOA Indicators on the PFD, resulting in the activation of the AOA Disagree lights - both items now serve as an additional crosscheck on all MAX aircraft.
Federal Aviation Administration safety inspectors and supervisors were also unaware of the change, according to government and industry officials that spoke to
The Wall Street Journal.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/28/boei...d-off-wsj.html
Edmund