Lifting Boeing 737 Max Flying Ban, Singapore Aviation Authority Implements Several Operational Conditions

Illustration of Boeing 737s from various airlines parked in a Boeing's area in Boston, United States. (Wikimedia Commons/SounderBruce)

JAKARTA - The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) lifted a flight ban on Boeing 737 MAX aircraft flying into and out of the country starting Monday (6 September). The previous suspension was in place since March 2019, in connection with two fatal incidents involving the Boeing 737 Max fleet in less than five months.

First March 2019, an Ethiopian Airlines crash involving a Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet killed 157 people. Earlier in October 2018, a Lion Air 737 MAX 8 jet crashed in Indonesia, killing 189 people.

"CAAS made the decision to lift the restrictions after completing its technical assessment, which included evaluation of design changes to the aircraft made by Boeing and approved by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other validation by regulatory authorities," CAAS said in a statement, citing CNA Monday. 6 September.

"CAAS also reviewed the operational flight data of aircraft that have returned to service over the past nine months and observed that there were no glaring safety concerns," the statement continued.

The United States Aviation Authority (FAA) lifted the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX in November 2020 after a 20-month review process. The FAA at the time also issued an airworthiness directive specifying design changes, including installing new flight control and display system software, which had to be created before the aircraft could return to service, as well as training requirements.

To enforce the lifting of the suspension, CAAS said it had issued a directive requiring Singaporean air carriers wishing to fly the Boeing 737 MAX, to comply with and implement all necessary actions stated in the FAA airworthiness directive and CAAS directive.

"This includes establishing a CAAS-approved flight crew training program consisting of elements of ground training, the flight specified in the FAA's special training for Boeing 737 MAX crew members, with additional simulator training to ensure that pilots are adequately trained in workload management when handling situations. aircraft emergency," the authorities said.

"In particular, Singapore Airlines must reassure CAAS that it has complied with and implemented all required measures stated, before its aircraft can return to service," the authority added.

Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines has six Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, according to an advisory issued in March 2019.

As for foreign airlines wishing to operate a fleet of similar aircraft to Singapore, they must comply with CAAS and FAA requirements, as well as other requirements of their respective civil aviation authorities, the authority said.

In addition to the US, other regulators that have lifted restrictions on the Boeing 737 MAX include those from the European Union, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

"Flight safety is paramount. CAAS has taken extra care to assess, monitor, and ensure that due diligence has been carried out and that the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft can operate safely, before lifting restrictions on aircraft operations in and out of Singapore," said the Director-General of CAAS. Han Kok Juan.