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FAA in final stages of Boeing 737 MAX review

Old 11-09-2020, 05:35 PM
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Default FAA in final stages of Boeing 737 MAX review

Exclusive: FAA in final stages of Boeing 737 MAX review; could approve as early as Nov. 18

WASHINGTON/SEATTLE (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is in the final stages of reviewing proposed changes to Boeing Co’s 737 MAX and expects to complete the process in the “coming days,” the agency’s chief told Reuters on Monday.

FILE PHOTO: A Boeing 737 MAX 7 aircraft piloted by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Chief Steve Dickson lands during an evaluation flight at Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, U.S. September 30, 2020. REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson
Three sources briefed on the matter told Reuters the FAA is set to lift its grounding order on the plane as early as Nov 18.

FAA Administrator Steve Dickson told Reuters in a statement that he expects “this process will be finished in the coming days, once the agency is satisfied that Boeing has addressed” safety issues involved in two fatal crashes that killed 346 people.

Boeing declined to comment.

The FAA decision comes as other global regulators are also moving closer to decisions on allowing the plane to again resume flights and could approve the MAX around the time U.S. regulators act, the sources said.

The ungrounding would be a vital step in a still-arduous path to recovery for Boeing, plunged into its worst-ever crisis by the crashes and the worldwide grounding of its best-selling plane in March 2019.

“The FAA continues to engage with aviation authorities around the world as they prepare to validate our certification decision,” Dickson said.

“As I have said many times before, the agency will take the time that it needs to thoroughly review the remaining work. Even though we are near the finish line, I will lift the grounding order only after our safety experts are satisfied that the aircraft meets certification standards.”

Following the FAA green light, airlines must complete software updates and fresh pilot training, a process that will take at least 30 days, before the planes can return to the skies.

Southwest Airlines, the world’s largest MAX operator, has said it would take several months to comply with the FAA requirements and that it does not plan to schedule flights on the aircraft until the second quarter of 2021.

The grounding has cost the U.S. planemaker billions, hobbled its supply chain, and triggered investigations that faulted Boeing and the FAA for a lack of transparency and weak oversight during the jet’s development, among other problems.

A Justice Department criminal investigation is ongoing.

As the coronavirus pandemic exacerbated the MAX crisis, Boeing slashed production and shed thousands of jobs. It has been locked in negotiations with airlines over taking delivery of some 450 already built 737 MAX planes being stored at facilities around the United States.

Last month, China’s aviation regulator said it had not set a timetable for the plane’s return to service.

Europe’s chief aviation safety regulator said in September the MAX could receive regulatory approval to resume flying in November and enter service by the end of the year.

Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu said Monday he expects the MAX to fly in Canada early next year.

Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; additional reporting by Tracy Rucinski in Chicago and Jamie Freed in Sydney; Editing by Leslie Adler and Jane Wardell
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Old 11-10-2020, 05:34 AM
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Had to wait until Orange-Man-Bad was "defeated"...
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Old 11-10-2020, 06:23 AM
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Originally Posted by MudhammedCJ View Post
Had to wait until Orange-Man-Bad was "defeated"...
Why would Orange-Man-Bad appoint Stephen Dickson to be the FAA administrator and tell him to wait till after the election to approve the jet? Sounds like Orange-Man-Stupid to me.
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Old 11-10-2020, 07:04 AM
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...Can we discuss politics now?
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Old 11-10-2020, 07:48 AM
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Made it all the way to post two. Sheesh!
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Old 11-10-2020, 03:47 PM
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Originally Posted by atooraya View Post
Why would Orange-Man-Bad appoint Stephen Dickson to be the FAA administrator and tell him to wait till after the election to approve the jet? Sounds like Orange-Man-Stupid to me.
Exactly.... lol
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Old 11-10-2020, 08:11 PM
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Ya. Exactly.
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Old 11-11-2020, 03:55 AM
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I for one am looking forward to flying the MAX again.

It has that neat little thingy up in the corner that displays your flight number.

Game changer!
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Old 11-11-2020, 04:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski View Post
I for one am looking forward to flying the MAX again.

It has that neat little thingy up in the corner that displays your flight number.

Game changer!
It's also got the PTT button on the glare shield. Also a game changer! As much as anyone can enjoy flying a 737, the MAX is the best variant I flew, no question.

Many things are political but I don't think the RTS of the MAX is related to the election. Boeing wants it back in the air, SWA wants to start flying them and the FAA wants to be as certain as possible that anything that can go wrong is unrelated to the previous issues. Balling up another one for similar reasons would likely end the program and might end Boeing. This needs to be right.
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Old 11-11-2020, 05:51 AM
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Originally Posted by saab2000 View Post
As much as anyone can enjoy flying a 737, the MAX is the best variant I flew, no question.
I’d agree, but that’s like having the best house....... in Newark.
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