Boeing Max: European regulator to conduct recertification flights in September

The flight tests will take place in Vancouver next month

Boeing 737 Max jets have been grounded worldwide since March 2019 (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will be conducting test flights on the Boeing 737 Max from September, an essential step before the grounded jets can return to service.

The aircraft, one of the best-selling models for Boeing, has been grounded worldwide since March 2019 following two fatal crashes.

The test flights are part of the safety recertification process, which will begin next week (1 September) with simulator tests at London Gatwick.

Physical test flights have so far been delayed because of the travel restrictions related to coronavirus, but EASA has said that it has agreed with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing to conduct the required tests in Vancouver, Canada, in the week beginning 7 September.

The Joint Operations Evaluation Board (JOEB), which includes representatives from the FAA, Europe, Brazil and Canada, will then take place at Gatwick in the week beginning 14 September.

If all tests are approved, the Max jets could soon return to service – but there is currently no concrete date of when this will happen.

In a statement, EASA said: "While Boeing still has some final actions to close off, EASA judges the overall maturity of the re-design process is now sufficient to proceed to flight tests. These are a prerequisite for the European agency to approve the aircraft’s new design."

The FAA completed its Boeing 737 Max recertification tests at the beginning of July but EASA needs to conduct its own separate tests.

The FAA stated: "While completion of the flights is an important milestone, a number of key tasks remain, including evaluating the data gathered during these flights.

"The agency is following a deliberate process and will take the time it needs to thoroughly review Boeing’s work. We will lift the grounding order only after FAA safety experts are satisfied that the aircraft meets certification standards."

Members of the public are also able to submit their comments to the FAA and these will be factored into the final decision making.