Seen As A Move Towards Recertification Of The Airplane

The FAA is reportedly inviting a "cross section of line pilots from carriers that operate the aircraft around the world” to fly Boeing 737 MAX simulators “as part of the overall testing and validating of new procedures" on the airplane.

The Seattle Times reports that Boeing has given suppliers a new production schedule for the 737 MAX that reflects "timing assumptions for the 737 MAX return to service plan.”

If the FAA clears the 737 MAX to return to service in October, Boeing apparently plans to immediately ramp up production of the single-aisle airplane from its current 42 per month to the pre-grounding level of 52 per month by mid-February 2020, and be rolling as many as 57 planes per month off the assembly line by mid summer next year.

The pilots who fly the simulators will test new procedures related to updated software in the  Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). Pilots will also reportedly run through separate procedures related to another computer glitch identified in June.

Boeing and the FAA have been testing the updated MCAS software for months, according to the report. The invitation by the agency for regular 737 MAX line pilots to evaluate the procedures is seen as a significant move towards bringing the airplane back into service.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report