23/9/2019 EASA Insists On Testing Boeing 737 MAX Itself Before Lifting Ban - Simple Flying 23/9/2019 EASA

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  Boeing Deliveries In The Doghouse As 737 MAX Jet Grounding Drags On

EASA Insists On Testing

Boeing 737 MAX Itself
Before Lifting Ban
by Joanna Bailey · September 5, 2019 ·  56 comments ·  3 minute read

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has said it will not take the FAA’s
word that the 737 MAX is safe to return to service. The watchdog is instead
insisting that it runs its own tests, including safety assessments and flight testing
for one full week. 

The EASA wants to do its own tests on the 737 MAX. Photo: Boeing

EASA outlined four conditions to be met before the MAX would be allowed to fly. Photo: Boeing
In a recent presentation by Patrick Ky to the European Parliament’s transport
committee, the EASA chief revealed a list of four conditions which would have to In detail, the four conditions are:
be met before EASA would allow the MAX to fly again. He noted that the FAA now
finds itself in a “very difficult situation”, indicating that the hierarchy between
No delegation: Design changes proposed by Boeing need to be EASA
certification authorities and the US agency may be forever changed, saying,
approved
A broader review: EASA wants an “additional and broader independent
“It is very likely that international authorities will want a second opinion, or a further design review” to be conducted by EASA
opinion … It was not like this a year ago.” A full understanding: EASA wants to be sure that both crashes are fully
understood
The four conditions Training for crew: The agency demands all Boeing 737 MAX flight crews are
adequately trained

The EASA has made clear it will not accept the US verdict on the safety of the 737
MAX. Instead, it plans to run its own tests on the aircraft before allowing it to fly. As well as this, EASA wants Boeing to demonstrate the stability of the MAX during
unusual and extreme maneuvers, both with the updated MCAS in operation and

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with the system switched off. There are also plans in the pipeline for a full week Even more notable, however, is the notion that other regulators will no longer
of flight testing in Boeing’s simulators by EASA representatives. bow to the FAA on safety issues. In the past, aviation regulators typically follow
the lead of others, in particular the FAA, but it seems international confidence
has been shaken, perhaps irreparably.
An unprecedented level of effort

As part of the presentation, Ky outlined what had been achieved so far, and what
was still yet to be done.

Ky described how EASA has been working alongside Boeing and the FAA
throughout the investigation, a task which EASA has described as an
“unprecedented level of effort.” Among other things, the agency has described
this as involving 20 multi-disciplinary experts on their side, 2-3 weekly web-based
meetings with Boeing and the review of more than 500 documents and actions.

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The IATA is concerned by the lack of unity among regulators. Photo: Boeing.

On Tuesday, Reuters reported that the head of the International Air Transport
Association (IATA) had expressed concern regarding a lack of unity in
international regulation. Director general, Alexandre de Juniac is quoted as
saying,

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The European agency says there is still no appropriate response to Angle of Attack integrity
issues. Photo: Boeing
Already, EASA has set out requirements for simulator and flight evaluation of the
aircraft. On May 22nd, the agency communicated 70 test points for evaluation,
covering both normal and abnormal operations.
EASA are not satisfied with progress so far. While it notes a level of satisfaction
with changes to the flight control computer architecture and that improved crew
procedures and training were a work in progress, it states there is “still no
appropriate response to Angle of Attack integrity issues.”
“With the 737 MAX we are a bit worried … because we don’t see the normal unanimity
among international regulators that should be the case … We see a discrepancy that’s
detrimental to the industry”
In response, the FAA emailed a statement to Reuters, which stated that “each
government will make its own decision to return the aircraft to service based on a
thorough safety assessment.”
While the timeline for the MAX’s return to service remains uncertain, operators
are continuing to remove it from schedules into the New Year. It remains to be
seen whether the international regulatory community can come to a consensus
ahead of the year end.

How will this affect the return to service date?

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The tough stance by the European authority will come as a blow to Boeing, who
still maintains high hopes of getting the jet back into service this side of the New Related Articles:
Year. The FAA could still approve the aircraft to fly as early as October, as Boeing
is hoping, but this would only allow it to fly domestically in the US.

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