Review process took 20 months.
Air traffic regulators around the world grounded the Boeing 737 MAX in March 2019 after two major crashes killed a total of 346 passengers and crew members.
Early Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cleared the aircraft for flight, saying that the move comes after a comprehensive and methodical 20-month review process. Investigators focused on anti-stall software that Boeing had used to counter the plane’s tendency to tilt nose-up because of the size and placement of the engines. That software pushed the nose down repeatedly on both of the aircraft that crashed, overriding the pilots’ struggles to regain control. In each case, a single faulty sensor initiated the nose-down pitch.
“This whole thing has had more scrutiny than any airplane in the world,” said an aeronautics professor at MIT. “It’s probably the safest airplane to be on.”
The planes will not be in the skies for a while yet. The FAA says it must approve pilot training changes for each U.S. airline and that airlines must perform required maintenance on the planes. So far, American Airlines is the only U.S. company to put the 737 MAX back on its schedule, beginning with one round trip daily between New York and Miami starting December 29.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the airline companies in the U.S. as they begin to return the Boeing 737 MAX to their schedules.
- That all the investigations and corrections have succeeded in making this aircraft safe to fly again.
- For safety in the skies for those who will be traveling over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Sources: Business Insider, Newsmax
