Reuters reports the Boeing 737 MAX may return to service before the end of this year. Patrick Ky, top executive of the European Union Avition Safety Agency, spoke about this during a meeting with French aviation journalists.
According to Ky, the 737 MAX could potentially get the green light from aviation authorities to fly again in November. This would allow the troubled plane to return to operational service in 2020.
First, the US Federal Aviation Administration must certify the modified MAX. Ky expects the EASA to lift the flight ban on the aircraft shortly thereafter. However, permission at national level, required for European airlines to fly the airplane, could take longer.
Earlier this month, the EASA completed a series of test flights with the Boeing 737 MAX in Canada. The flights were necessary for the recertification of the aircraft.
The data and other information collected during these flights have since been reviewed at an international meeting of regulators and airline pilots at London’s Gatwick airport.
The Boeing 737 MAX has been grounded worldwide for a year and a half after two fatal crashes due to problems with the new Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). Boeing has made adjustments to the software and to several other systems on board of the aircraft, which the company hopes will be sufficient for recertification.