NEW YORK – Boeing confirmed yesterday that it has resumed deliveries of the 737 MAX after getting regulatory approval for a fix to an electrical problem that grounded more than 100 planes.
The deliveries revive a key revenue stream for the aviation giant, and come after it announced on May 13 that it has sent service bulletins to airlines following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval of its fix for the electrical problem.
Both American Airlines and United Airlines have resumed flights on MAX planes affected by the issue, said spokesmen for the carriers.
A Southwest Airlines spokesman said it is still implementing changes in light of Boeing’s service bulletin and has not returned its 32 affected aircraft to service.
Boeing announced on April 9 that it has notified 16 airlines flying its 737 MAX planes of the electrical issue, leading to the immediate grounding of the jets and suspension of new deliveries.
FAA described the problem as “an electrical bonding and grounding issue”, and said it affects three parts of the plane in models built after Boeing made design changes in early 2019.
The electrical issue was a new setback after the MAX was cleared to return to service in November last year, after a 20-month grounding caused by two fatal crashes.
Boeing also recently resumed deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner following a suspension last fall to address production problems.
Two senior House Democrats earlier this week announced they are seeking records from FAA and Boeing on the MAX and 787 issues.
The lawmakers – transportation committee chairman Peter DeFazio and aviation subcommittee chairman Rick Larsen – cited their report from 2020 on the MAX, which pointed to significant problems at Boeing and in FAA’s oversight of the company. – AFP, May 20, 2021
