A modified version of the Boeing 737 MAX will be flying in Europe again following approval by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
EASA mandated a package of software upgrades, electrical working rework, maintenance checks, operations manual updates and crew training to allow the plane to fly safely in Europe. Two crashes grounded the aircraft globally in 2019.
737 Max Approved for European Flights
“We have reached a significant milestone on a long road,” EASA’s Executive Director Patrick Ky commented. “Following extensive analysis by EASA, we have determined that the 737 Max can safely return to service. This assessment was carried out in full independence of Boeing or the Federal Aviation Administration and without any economic or political pressure – we asked difficult questions until we got answers and pushed for solutions which satisfied our exacting safety requirements. We carried out our own flight tests and simulator sessions and did not rely on others to do this for us.”
“Let me be quite clear that this journey does not end here. We have every confidence that the aircraft is safe, which is the precondition for giving our approval. But we will continue to monitor 737 Max operations closely as the aircraft resumes service. In parallel, and at our insistence, Boeing has also committed to work to enhance the aircraft still further in the medium term, in order to reach an even higher level of safety.”
Investigations have taken nearly two years after crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed a total of 346 people. It is thought they were caused by a faulty flight handling system.
The Boeing 737 Max has already been approved for use in the US, Canada and Brazil.
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