The China Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) has conducted an extensive and in-depth technical investigation of the Boeing 737 MAX, according to CAAC CEO Dong Qi, giving the regulator’s position on the plane that grounded China in early 2019.
“Once the major safety concerns are addressed, we will conduct flight tests step-by-step, and consider re-certification,” said Dong, adding that cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing has been positive. China was the first country to ground the 737 MAX in March 2019 after the two fatal crashes. China accounts for about a quarter of MAX orders.
CAAC defined three principles for the 737-MAX reinstatement, including approved design changes, appropriate training for pilots and specific consequences of accidents. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted the flight ban on the aircraft in January. This was followed by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and several other agencies. Australia said on Friday it would lift the Max flight ban.
