FAA to require 737 rudder changes
 

I think this is about time:


WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 — The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Tuesday formally proposed that all Boeing 737 aircraft, a workhorse of the airline industry, be outfitted with a new rudder control system over a five-year period. The proposed order would affect about 2,000 U.S.-registered planes with an estimated cost of $364 million, and follows the recommendations of a scientific panel appointed to examine rudder malfunctions blamed for two 737 crashes in the 1990s.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/657585.asp?0dm=B11ML#BODY

I am stunned. I assumed this was done years ago. I have several non-aviation-minded friends who have expressed fear about flying in a 737 because of the rudder. I have always told them: "Don't worry, the industry has known about that for ages and the whole worldwide fleet have been modified." Another five years?!

Pls keep in mind several Rudder system modifications (ADs) have been done over the last few years. This new AD constitutes incororation of additional Rudder Flight Control system improvements.