Boeing's troubled 737 Max has successfully completed its FAA-pilot flight tests, a major step toward recertification, but there are still many issues to be resolved before it returns to commercial service. And even when it does, it will have to win back passengers who may be wary of flying on one.
For now, steps ahead for the FAA include deciding what level of pilot training and retraining will be required. That's a critical issue; the Max has larger and heavier engines mounted further forward than previous 737s; the MCAS software that has been the heart of the problem that caused two major crashes was designed to make the plane handle like earlier generations and avoid expensive training.
The process of evaluating the data from the test flights and scrutiny of the software as well as the training recommendations will take several months, and may include input from other regulators, especially in Europe, who are not as willing as in the past to take FAA certification on its face. Over the course of the investigation, it has become apparent that FAA and Boeing shared a very cozy relationship, and not all needed information was shared with regulators.
Even when the plane returns to service, airlines are assuming there will be resistance from some passengers, at least in the first couple of years; the three U.S. airlines with significant numbers of Max on hand or on order, American, Southwest and United, have all indicated that they will allow passenger flight changes to avoid the plane with no fee and minimum hassle.
Photo: FAA official boards 737 Max for recertification flight.
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