Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) revoked the issuance of new type certificates for the Boeing 737 Classic and NG, operated by Russian airlines, the justification for which is that recent changes to the 737 would have deficiencies in the aircraft's elevator system, such defects must be resolved by Boeing until it is authorized to issue new type certificates to ensure continued safe operation.
“We have the original copy. However, we see the need to respond quickly to the situation, so tomorrow the Federal Air Transport Agency will hold a meeting with the airlines that operate the Boeing 737”, said the president of MAK, Tatiana Anodina, and the president of the Aviation of MAK, Vladimir Bespalov. The Russian newspaper Interfax.ru was informed that MAK is concerned about the safety of aircraft of this type. The respondent added that the commission's decision could lead to a simultaneous shutdown of the entire Russian fleet of Boeing 737s.
One of the largest operators of the Boeing-737 was the air carrier “Transaero”, whose operating certificate was revoked on October 26, leading to its bankruptcy. The President of MAK, Tatiana Anodina. took a 3% stake in the airline. In addition to Transaero, other Russian companies such as UTAir, Orenair, Aeroflot, Gazpromavia, Nordwind, Pobeda and Siberia Airlines operate the 737, in a total of 107 aircraft currently active in Russian territory, not including privately operated ones.
The reason given by Russian air regulation agencies for such an attitude would be the accident of Tatarstan Airlines Flight 363 with a Boeing 737-500, in which shortly after the command to turn off the autopilot, the aircraft took a quick turn downwards, not allowing the recovery of flight controls and consequently ended in an accident. The investigation by Russian bodies found problems in the elevator of the 737 Classic, which may have had its cables broken during the flight. But MAK did not say whether this elevator-based ban is linked to the Tatarstan accident.
