The US aviation agency, the FAA, has warned the Boeing group that it may require more test flights for the 777X before granting the green light for its certification, highlighting a lack of technical data on several points.
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The regulator explains in a letter dated May 13 and consulted Monday by AFP, that to be "
realistic
", it was not necessary to wait for the certification of the device before "
mid-2023
" or later in the year 2023 The manufacturer had already warned that it expected to receive the green light from the FAA at the end of 2023 for this new version of its long-haul 777. Its share still fell by 3.2% at mid-session to Wall Street Monday in the wake of the publication of this letter, first unveiled Sunday by the Seattle Times.
Review not yet completed
The FAA recalls having discussed during "
numerous meetings
" the preparation of the 777-9, one of the two versions of the 777X, during the last nine months and "
considers that the device is not ready
" to receive the TIA (Type Inspection Authorization).
This green light is issued when the examination of the required technical data has been completed or is sufficiently advanced to consider that the examined device will meet the applicable regulations.
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However, in the case of 777-9, the FAA considers that the procedure on these technical data is not “
mature
”
enough
.
The regulator highlights in particular a problem on a test flight in December 2020 on which he believes he has not received all the information on how Boeing intended to rectify the situation.
He also mentions in the letter the "
possibility that the number of required certification test flights will be increased
".
Strict verification program
"
The FAA will not approve any aircraft unless it meets our safety and certification standards,
" the agency said in a message sent to AFP.
"
We put the aircraft through a comprehensive test program to demonstrate its safety and reliability and are working to do this through a rigorous development process to ensure that we meet all applicable requirements
," Boeing responded on Monday.
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: "We will emerge stronger from the Covid crisis and the 737 Max"
The manufacturer ensures to continue to communicate "
in full transparency
" with the FAA and other regulators in the world on the certification of the device. The devices developed by Boeing are particularly monitored by the supervisory authorities after the two 737 MAX accidents which killed 346 a few months apart in 2018 and 2019.
