Boeing 737MAX Recertified In The USA

Finally after one year, eight months and six days, Boeing 737MAX reinstated by Federal Aviation Administration to return to service. It's the green light that US operators were waiting for since the type was grounded in March 13th, 2019 following two fatal crashes killing 346 soul on board of two flights operated by Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines.

When the aircraft was first grounded, no one expected that it would take so long to return to the skies. But FAA had no intension to make it easy for Boeing and announced that no timeline was set for the aircraft to be back to active service unless FAA is totally convinced that the it's safe. But last summer witnessed a series of test flights and significant progress has been made. EASA on the other shore of the Atlantic was also commencing their own test flights to separately recertify the type.

As of day, FAA has rescinded it's grounding order of the 737MAX. Meaning that airlines in the US will return the aircraft to service once they comply with instructions of airworthiness directive concerning completion of pilots training.

Southwest Airlines recently said that it would train every single pilot on the 737 MAX before it returns the type to service. Other airlines will need to undertake pilot training and software updates before returning the kind to use.

Commenting on the ungrounding, David Calhoun, CEO of The Boeing Company said,

“We will never forget the lives lost in the two tragic accidents that led to the decision to suspend operations. These events and the lessons we have learned as a result have reshaped our company and further focused our attention on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.”

Meanwhile, FAA Administrator told CNBC that it would be ‘impossible’ for the same accident conditions to happen in the future. He added that he would put his family on the aircraft.

Regarding Boeing’s undelivered 737 MAX aircraft, the FAA will perform individual reviews of each aircraft in person. They will then grant the airworthiness certificate and export certificates (if necessary) for each aircraft.

What is the situation in other countries?

Today’s news from the FAA is only applicable to United States airlines and N registered aircraft. The FAA recognizes that other civil aviation authorities may follow its lead. However, they are not obliged to do so. It is up to each country to unground the aircraft itself.

One would expect that Canada may be one of the next countries to unground the aircraft as it was one of the countries to test fly the aircraft before the FAA’s recertification, alongside Europe’s EASA. Brazil was also included in the Joint Operations Evaluation Board that met to review the results from test flights.