The European Union Aviation Safety Agency(EASA), today revealed that it has completed its test flights of the Boeing 737 MAX, which took place in Vancouver, Canada due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
#EASA and @Boeing test pilots have concluded test flights on #737MAX. An important step in ensuring the aircraft’s new design is truly safe. https://t.co/EktPcorDJF pic.twitter.com/hEoo1tdQJH
— EASA (@EASA) September 11, 2020
The data will be analyzed prior to a meeting of the Joint Operations Evaluation Board next week. This will see representatives from a group of aviation authorities evaluating the aircraft prior to a return to service.
The Boeing 737 MAX has been grounded for a year an a half. Its airworthiness certificate was withdrawn following two fatal crashes of the type bearing strong similarities. Since the type was grounded, Boeing has been working with multiple certification agencies towards rectifying the aircraft.
Each day the aircraft started and finished in Vancouver, with the EASA representatives present. The aircraft started in Seattle on Monday, September 8th. The plane flew for half an hour to pick up EASA representatives from Vancouver. Having departed from Vancouver, the aircraft operated a 2:16 flight to Moses Lake, a Boeing 737 MAX storage facility. The aircraft then completed a 1:12 flight back to Vancouver before returning to Boeing Field for the night.
“EASA has been working steadily, in close cooperation with the FAA and Boeing, to return the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to service as soon as possible, but only once we are convinced it is safe.”