Northwest Aerospace News PNAA 2021 ADVANCE | Page 122

BOEING READIES RETURN TO DELIVERY OF THE 737 MAX

ED KAPLANIAN Commercial Aviation Advisor ekaplanian @ msn . com
Now that the FAA has given the nod to unground the Boeing 737 Max , Boeing is steadfast in not losing any time in bringing the aircraft back to the skies and kickstarting a smooth return to delivery . According to Boeing ’ s internal planning , the process from removing a Max jet from storage to hand over to the customer will take just over two weeks on average .
The first three days will focus on storage removal and airplane reactivation , including the removal of environmental protection equipment and depreservation of engines and systems . Days four to 10 will involve software updates and flight preparations , engine runs and flight control checks , plus flight and operational checks by Boeing ’ s teams . Days 11 to 16 will see the completion of the “ airplane ticketing ” ( the certification of the airworthiness preparation and issuance once the airplane passes all tests and the FAA accepts the results ), the transfer of the aircraft ’ s title deeds to the customer , and preparation of the aircraft for the ferry flight to its home base .
Boeing has also set up a dedicated 24 / 7 Max support operations center , with real-time fleet monitoring , aimed at providing a rapid issue resolution . It also expanded the onsite specialized support staff to 154 spread out over five regions .
Some 450 newly manufactured 737 Max aircraft are in storage sites across the U . S ., while another 387 of the narrow bodies were in service with 59 airlines worldwide when authorities ordered the grounding .
Boeing ’ s Seattle delivery center will turn over all 737 Maxes to customers . Then its sites at Moses Lake , Washington ; San Antonio , Texas ; and Victorville , California will serve as feeder lines .
Boeing expects delivery of about half of the aircraft in storage now by the end of next year and the majority of the remaining Maxes by the end of 2022 .
Sources : Boeing / Picture Boeing
122 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
PNAA ADVANCE / 2021