WASHINGTON: After nearly two years of scrutiny, corporate upheaval and a standoff with global regulators, Boeing Co is set to win approval on Wednesday from the US Federal Aviation Administration to fly its 737 MAX jet again after two fatal disasters.
The US planemaker’s best-selling jet will resume commercial service facing strong headwinds like a resurgent coronavirus pandemic, new European tariffs, and mistrust of one of the most scrutinised brands in aviation. Anticipating FAA approval, American Airlines plans to relaunch commercial MAX flights on Dec. 29. Southwest Airlines, the world’s largest MAX operator, does not plan to fly the aircraft until the second quarter of 2021.
The FAA is requiring new pilot training and software upgrades to deal with a stall-prevention system called MCAS, which in both crashes repeatedly and powerfully shoved down the jet’s nose as pilots struggled to regain control. Boeing meanwhile is scrambling to keep up maintenance and find airline buyers for many of its mothballed 737 MAXs since the coronavirus downturn sapped airlines’ desire to refresh fleets.