Transport Canada has validated the changes to the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft recently certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This means that the modifications can now be incorporated on Canadian registered aircraft.
Transport Canada states that it has worked extensively with the FAA and other key certifying authorities, including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC), as well as the three Canadian operators of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, and their pilot unions throughout the validation process of the aircraft to ensure “all factors are addressed prior to a safe return to service of the aircraft”.
The validation is only the first step in the eventual return to service of this aircraft in Canadian airspace. Transport Canada highlights the complexity inherent in the return to service process for the MAX aircraft. Transport Canada states its need to put in place comprehensive safety plans that require additional aircraft changes, maintenance and training.
“Transport Canada will work with Canadian airline operators, crews and union associations over the coming weeks to determine how these requirements will be implemented in Canada.”
In January 2021, the department expects to issue a Canadian Airworthiness Directive which will stipulate the Canadian design changes that must be incorporated in Canadian aircraft. At the same time, the department will also mandate the training requirements for air crew through an Interim Order.
The modifications to the aircraft as specified in the Canadian Airworthiness Directive include: the incorporation of the revised pilot training syllabus into the Transport Canada-approved training program for each Canadian airline; and for airlines to conduct maintenance on the aircraft to ensure it will operate safely, given the aircraft have been in storage for some time.
Specifically, the Canadian design changes for the Boeing 737 MAX will include an enhanced flight deck procedure that provides the option for a pilot-in-command to disable a loud and intrusive warning system (commonly called the “stick shaker”) when the system has been erroneously activated by a failure in the angle of attack sensor system. This feature will help to reduce pilot workload given what has been learned from the two tragic accidents, and has been fully evaluated by Transport Canada’s flight test pilots. There will also be differences in training including training on the enhanced flight deck procedure.
The commercial flight restrictions for the operation of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in Canadian airspace remain in effect 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”.