EASA to remove Boeing 737 MAX ban after its own tests

By September 9, 2019 January 16th, 2020 General News

The EASA has stated that it will conduct its own independent tests to check the Boeing 737 MAX software updates, and evaluate its safety before the type returns to service with European operators.

The European regulator said it will check with its counterparts in the US, the FAA on the verdict of the improvements Boeing made to the troubled 737 MAX programme. The 737 MAX fleet was grounded after the two crashes involving aircraft from Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines.

Although the FAA is the authority leading the re-certification process and this was approved by the IATA. However, all the regulators must give an approval to lift the whole fleet.

In terms of the unanimity among international regulators, there are some issues that even IATA is worried about. After the FAA suffered a dent to its credibility following 737 MAX crashes, some regulators said they will carry out their own checks, and EASA is among them.

These series of ‘double-checks’ might in some way to contribute to Boeing’s programme regaining trust among the public sooner, but it will mean the entry to service of the 737 MAX will take far longer.

The FAA has links with other aviation authorities. But, even when the FAA says that Boeing 737 MAX is safe to fly, it means that formally the FAA is giving clearance only to the US airlines.

Other operators all around the globe will have to wait for their regulator’s safety assessment and approval before returning the aircraft to commercial service.

But differences in regulators’ opinions might put the FAA in an awkward position and make additional complications to the schedules of many airlines flying 737 MAX aircraft internationally.