Page 9 - Flight International (January 2020)

THIS WEEK

passenger service. Now the FAA’s
re-approval appears likely to
come several months later.
Boeing’s latest projection “ac-
counts for the rigorous scrutiny
that regulatory authorities are
rightly applying at every step of
their review of the 737 Max’s
flight-control system, and the Joint
Operations Evaluation Board
[JOEB] process, which determines
pilot training requirements,” the
AirTeamImages airframer says.
The JOEB consists of crews

and has been tasked with evaluat-
Some observers believed grounding order could be lifted soon, but safety authority has ‘set no timeline’ from multiple 737 Max operators
ing training for the twinjet's pilots.
Although the board’s work is
ASSESSMENT JON HEMMERDINGER BOSTON incomplete, when finished, the
Return of the Max expected FAA’s Flight Standardisation
Board will use the findings to de-
velop pilot training recommenda-
in June, Boeing tells carriers tions, which will then be subject
to a public review.
The FAA says it has “set no
Airframer informs customers it now estimates FAA will re-certificate twinjet ‘mid-2020’ timeframe for when the work will
be completed”.
oeing now expects the US currently estimating that the un- trator Steve Dickson quashed “The agency is following a thor-
BFederal Aviation Administra- grounding of the 737 Max will Boeing’s plan when he said too ough, deliberate process to verify
tion (FAA) to certificate the 737 begin mid-2020,” Boeing said on much work remained unfinished that all proposed modifications to
Max in the middle of 2020, 21 January. “This estimate is in- for a 2019 sign-off. the Boeing 737 Max meet the
marking another delay to the air- formed by our experience to date Since then, Boeing has shied highest certification standards,”
craft’s flight approval – which with the certification process.” away from providing a timeline. the FAA says. “We continue to
some observers had expected Until December 2019, Boeing Some observers estimated certifi- work with other safety regulators
would come early this year. had thought regulators would cation would come early in 2020, to review Boeing’s work as the
“We are informing our custom- clear the jet to fly before year-end. perhaps in February, with a roll- company conducts the required
ers and suppliers that we are But in December, FAA adminis- ing reintroduction of the Max into safety assessments and addresses
all issues that arise in testing.”
Meanwhile, United Airlines
has become the first Max custom-
SCHEDULE
New chief executive Calhoun plans rapid return of production er to announce that it will operate
without the aircraft during the
Production of the 737 Max could tion rate up a few months before “for discourse with our regulator peak summer travel season.
restart several months before the… middle of the year.” at every level”. “We continue to assume there
mid-year and ahead of the twin- Calhoun clarifies that final as- Since taking Boeing’s helm, will be a safe return of the Max
jet’s return to service, meaning sembly could start within three Calhoun has talked with “most” and we’re encouraged at what we
the assembly line could be reacti- months and insists Boeing has no of Boeing’s big customers and hope is a more realistic timeline,”
vated within three months, the plans to lay off workers. attended meetings at the the carrier’s president Scott Kirby
airframer’s new chief executive His comments came nine days Pentagon and White House and said on 22 January.
David Calhoun says. after Calhoun stepped into the with the FAA, he says. Chief commercial officer
“Production will start… Boeing chief executive’s office He also pledges a new era of Andrew Nocella adds: “We are
months before that moment in and several days after the com- openness and transparency with now assessing the impact to the
June, because we have to get pany halted 737 Max production. regulators and the press. schedule, but don’t anticipate
that line started up again,” Calhoun says the return-to- In the immediate future, flying the Max this summer.”
Calhoun revealed on 22 January. service timeline reflects Boeing’s Boeing will primarily focus on its United had 14 737-8s in ser-
By “moment in June”, Calhoun decision to recommend that existing products, starting with vice at the time of the grounding,
seemingly refers to Boeing’s mid- pilots undergo simulator training the Max, and on improving safety with another 16 now built but
year projection for certification of – guidance the Federal Aviation and engineering, with less imme- undelivered at Boeing facilities.
the 737 Max, which has been Administration (FAA) seems diate attention on future projects. The carrier says it sees no is-
grounded since 13 March 2019. almost certain to adopt. But he insists Boeing is not sues with any additional training
“And the supply chain will be “That was always going to “running from research” and requirements for its crews as it has
reinvigorated even before that,” elongate return-to-service,” says although it “might reprioritise” “ample simulator capacity”. ■
Calhoun adds. “We are going to Calhoun, adding that the new development projects, “we are Additional reporting by Pilar
slowly, steadily bring our produc- timeline provides sufficient time not ripping them up”. ■ Wolfsteller in San Francisco

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