Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

Boeing hopes regulator will approve revised 737 MAX jets in December

Boeing hopes regulator will approve revised 737 MAX jets in December
Copyright 
By Jim OHagan & Chris Harris
Published on
Share this article Comments
Share this article Close Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Copy to clipboard Copied

Boeing hopes to have its 737 MAX jets, grounded since March, back flying soon.

ADVERTISEMENT

Embattled planemaker Boeing has told Euronews it is hoping to get authorities' approval for its revised 737 MAX jets next month.

Regulators banned commercial flights of the firm's fastest-selling aircraft in March after two fatal accidents.

First, in October 2018, a Lion Air flight from Jakarta crashed into the Java Sea, killing all 189 passengers and crews on board.

Then, March this year, an Ethiopian Airlines flight, en route from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, came down shortly after take-off.

Indonesia Lion Air plane crash: what we know

Plans for the jet’s return to commercial service have been pushed back to early 2020 as Boeing finalises software and training revisions that need regulatory approval.

"So, first of all, this is a human tragedy that plays very heavily on the hearts and minds of everyone at Boeing every day," Charlie Miller, the company's vice-president of international corporate communications, told Euronews at the Dubai Air Show.

"The plane will return to service when the Federal Aviation Authority and the other global regulators around the world tell us that it's safe. So we're awaiting certification. The changes in the software are ready to go and if all goes well we may gain certification from the FAA in December which would enable us to start to deliver planes and then in January, new training will be approved and that would enable us to train pilots on the changes and start to get the planes into service.

"But the primary issue here is safety and the plane will fly when it's safe and the authorities tell us it's ready to go."

It comes as Kazakhstan flag carrier Air Astana said it had signed a letter of intent to order 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets for its FlyArystan subsidiary.

Air Astana, which operates Airbus and Embraer jets in its main network, said it was confident in Boeing’s ability to resolve problems with the MAX.

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share this article Comments

Read more

Justice Department reaches tentative non-prosecution deal with Boeing over 737 Max crashes

Recovery efforts continue after deadly midair collision in Washington

Medevac plane with six on board crashes in Philadelphia: at least 7 dead 19 injured