Canada Validates Boeing 737 MAX Design Changes, a First Step in Resuming Commercial Flights -- Update

   By Kim Mackrael

OTTAWA--Canada on Thursday said it had validated design changes to Boeing Co.'s 737 MAX aircraft, the first step in allowing jets that were grounded after two deadly crashes to resume commercial flights in Canadian airspace.

Transport Canada said its experts had completed an independent review of the design changes to the MAX aircraft and the modifications can now be made on aircraft in Canada. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration had certified the design changes in November.

"This plane has been looked at very, very carefully," Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau said during a press conference in Montreal on Thursday. "We feel very confident that we have done our homework properly."

Canada joined other regulators in grounding the MAX in March of 2019, after it was involved in two crashes that occurred less than five months apart from each other and left 346 people dead.

Canadian regulators have previously said they would follow their own timeline in validating the MAX changes and clearing the aircraft for commercial flights. They also indicated there would be differences between what the FAA approved and the training and flight procedures Canada requires.

On Thursday, Canada said it expects to issue a Canadian airworthiness directive for the MAX aircraft in January, which will lay out the Canadian design changes that must be made. Canada will also issue an interim order that mandates training requirements for air crew, the department said.

Transport Canada said one of its changes, which is specific to Canada, involves a new flight deck procedure that would allow a pilot to disable the aircraft's warning system if it has been erroneously activated. It said the feature is based on lessons from the two previous crashes and has been evaluated by Canadian test pilots. The department said it would also require additional training on the flight deck procedure.

Commercial flight restrictions remain in effect in Canada, and "will not be lifted until Transport Canada is fully satisfied that all its safety concerns have been addressed, that required modifications have been incorporated, that enhanced flight crew procedures are in place, and that all training has been conducted in Canada," the department said.

A document laying out the steps in returning the MAX to commercial service, which was posted on Transport Canada's website, said training flights will be permitted starting in January and commercial flight restrictions could be lifted later that month. A spokeswoman for Mr. Garneau said those timelines are estimates and could be pushed back.

Write to Kim Mackrael at kim.mackrael@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 17, 2020 12:43 ET (17:43 GMT)

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