Wants To Evaluate MCAS Software Changes Prior To Recertification

FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson is planning to travel to Seattle to personally fly a 737 MAX sim prior to the airplane's recertification.

CNBC reports that Dickson said in an interview with the network Monday that he plans to make the trip this week in order to make an evaluation of software changes to the airplane's MCAS, which has been implicated in two accidents earlier this year leading to a worldwide grounding of the airliner.

Dickson, a former airline pilot, will also meet with Boeing officials in Seattle. He said the FAA has no firm timeline for a return to service for the 737 MAX. However, he did say “I can guarantee you that the airplane will not be flying again until I’m satisfied that it’s the safest thing out there.”

Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg has said in the past that Boeing hopes to formally submit the software changes to the FAA this month, and that he anticipates that the 737 MAX will be cleared to fly at least in the U.S. by the end of the year. But he has also acknowledged that other aviation regulators may not follow the FAA's lead when it comes to recertifying the airplane.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report