The aircraft has been immobilized worldwide since March 2019 following two fatal accidents. (File)
New York:
US regulators are about to embark on a test flight of the 737 MAX on Boeing soil and may plan the key milestone as early as next week, two sources said on Friday.
The flight test delayed by the Federal Aviation Administration is a critical step in the recertification of the aircraft for service but the exact timing remains fluid, two people familiar with the matter told AFP.
The aircraft has been immobilized worldwide since March 2019 following two fatal accidents.
Boeing upgraded the software for a flight management system that was quickly identified as a major factor in the collisions of the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines planes that claimed the lives of 346 people.
But recertification of the jet was delayed by later problems identified by aviation safety regulators.
“The team is progressing towards FAA certification flights in the near future,” said an FAA spokesperson on Friday.
“The FAA is reviewing Boeing documentation to determine if the company has met the criteria to proceed to the next stage of the assessment. We will not conduct certification flights until we are satisfied with this data.”
Demand for the plane fell as global air travel collapsed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Boeing said it expects certification in time to resume MAX deliveries in the third quarter, adding that the schedule will be set by the FAA.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
