Two people familiar with the situation told Bloomberg on Friday that the goal was to start flight tests on Monday, but they could be postponed at the last minute. This was subsequently confirmed by the FAA in a report to Congress, which deals with issues of 737 MAX machine accidents.
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In an e-mail to CNN, he wrote: “Over the past few weeks, the FAA has reviewed a report on security systems provided by Boeing. The FAA Type Approval Council has completed its assessment and paved the way for the initiation of airworthiness tests. Testing is expected to take several days and will include a wide range of flight maneuvers and emergency procedures to enable the Authority to verify that the change meets the certification requirements. ”
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There will always be one Boeing test pilot and one from the FAA on board during the tests. An FAA test flight engineer and a Boeing manager for the same area will also be on board.
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The tests are intended to verify whether Boeing was able to eliminate problems with the MCAS automatic steering system, which reduced the angle of attack of the aircraft when it climbed too sharply and there was a risk of loss of lift. However, the system was difficult to disconnect. In addition, it used data from only one angle of attack (AoA) sensor, even though the aircraft has two. In both accidents – last year’s Ethiopia and the year before in Indonesia – the AoA did not provide correct data.
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Stock growth
Boeing announced on Sunday: “We are conscientiously continuing to work for the safe return of the 737 MAX to service. During this process, we will obey the FAA and global regulators. ”
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Shares of Boeing after that move immediately – even before the opening of the New York Stock Exchange – rose 8.3 percent to $ 184.11. This year, however, they lost a total of 48 percent of their value.
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This step does not mean that the FAA will complete the evaluation of return requirements. The FAA has not yet decided on the return of the 737 to the air.
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However, the FAA said in a letter that there are still a number of steps that must be taken before the aircraft can return to service in the US and around the world: “It is important to note evaluating the fulfillment of operational requirements or other work related to the return to operation. The FAA has not yet decided to return the 737 to the air. “
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According to The Seattle Times, the 737 MAX can return to service in September – if all goes well. The flight tests will examine the operation of the MCAS system even in extreme cases, such as after an interrupted landing, when the aircraft has to climb sharply. If the machine climbs too hard, MCAS pushes the nose of the aircraft down.
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In addition, type examination revealed that the electrical wiring of the motors did not comply with federal regulations.
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