Will the 737 MAX fly in the coming months? This time, it is the Transport Committee of the American Congress which comes to question this aircraft grounded since the accident of the Lion Air which had killed 189 people in 2018 and that of Ethiopian Airlines with 157 dead in 2019. The conclusions are relentless: "This plane is fundamentally defective and dangerous".
An announcement comes when the Chicago aeronautical group hoped to be able to make the first flight to re-certify the aircraft after having modified the anti-stall system causing the crashes.
A few days ago, Steve Dickson, the administrator of the FAA (Federal Aviation Authority) estimated that this first flight is "the affair of a few weeks" without specifying a date.
Except that the conclusions of the Transport Commission could reshuffle the cards. Because beyond the problems of the Boeing 737 MAX, the Congress also questions the FAA certification procedures.
"An aviation surveillance system that desperately needs change"
"The fact that several technical design errors or certification errors have been found to be FAA compliant illustrates a critical need for legislative and regulatory reform," she said, adding, "Developing a commercial aircraft that meets FAA regulations but fundamentally flawed and dangerous highlights an aviation surveillance system that desperately needs change. "
Under these conditions, the return to commercial operation of the American manufacturer's flagship aircraft is further away.
In addition to the new certification procedure, airline pilots will have to be trained on the new flight systems ... According to Gary Kell, the owner of the low cost American company Southwest Airlines, it will take "around 90 days" between the green light from the authorities of certification and resumption of commercial flights.
Passengers refuse to board 737 MAX
Still, the reputation of this device is likely to overwhelm some airlines with passengers who refuse to board it. The Ryanair boss has already announced that those who don't want to fly aboard a 737 MAX can cancel their trip: “We don't want passengers to feel trapped in a MAX. If you don't want to go on board, fine. You go, get your baggage and you can be reimbursed in full, "said Michael O'Leary, the boss of the company which in principle expects from the fall the start of delivery of 210 737 MAX.
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VIDEO. In turn, the United States grounded the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9
If Boeing can initially consider changing the name of the aircraft once it has obtained its new certification, the aircraft manufacturer could also and above all accelerate the arrival on the market of a new aircraft which would be between MAX 10 and the 787 in order to finally draw a line under this plane.
