Amidst the tense atmosphere between the Boeing and FAA on 737 MAX 7 and 10 certification, the American Airlines Pilots Association (APA) took a position on the model certification process.
The American Pilots Association is against extending the deadline for Boeing to perform the certification after the established period. The manufacturer would have until the end of this year to certify the new variants of the 737 MAX.
With the accidents involving the Boeing 737 MAX itself, the FAA has adopted a more rigid stance regarding the certification processes of any aircraft.
The most recent measure is related to alerts issued in the cockpit to the crew as a result of some failure or malfunction in the plane's systems during the flight.
If the 737 MAX 7 and 10 are not certified by December 31, Boeing would have to implement additional training for the model, thus resulting in increased costs to operate the plane.
American Pilots Association President Captain Edward Sicher stated:
“Boeing needs to proceed with the installation of modern crew alert systems on these aircraft to mitigate the effect of pilot startle and confusion during complex system failures. Once these systems are in place and pilots have been properly trained, our teams will be better able to identify system failures and prioritize corrective actions that can save lives.”
The manufacturer on the other hand says that "Keeping the cockpit warning systems safer is safer but the company is focused on meeting all regulatory requirements to certify the MAX 7 and MAX 10 variants."
Boeing is looking for a solution and aims to take action in Congress to try to extend the certification period for the 737 MAX 10. At the same time, the manufacturer is certifying the 737 MAX 7, which, according to its specifications, has an 'easier' path.
Boeing's ime with the new regulations is more specific in relation to the Engine Indication and Crew Alert System (EICAS), in which only the 737/737 MAX family is not eligible.
For all Boeing 737 aircraft to comply with the new system, the manufacturer would need to work a lot on the cockpit of the aircraft, as the systems used are inherited from the first generations.
EICAS is a system that notifies pilots of any problem in flight systems and instructs pilots on how to deal with the situation.
Documentation delay for MAX 7
Boeing needed to deliver all System Safety Assessments (SSAs) by mid-September so that all steps are taken towards certification of the 737 MAX 7 in December by the FAA.
The FAA said that of the ratings submitted by Boeing, just under 10% have been accepted by the FAA, and another 70% are under review and evaluation. The FAA has expressed concern regarding the documents that are still missing and that Boeing has yet to provide submissions for.
The failure to deliver the assessments that are still missing is a concern for the FAA, which will not be able to certify the model in December if the requirements are not met.
With information from Airways Magazine
