The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) organized a meeting with Boeing in Zhoushan, Zhejiang on September 14, 2022, to discuss the return of the 737 MAX to the country.
China was the first country to ground the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in 2019 after two deadly crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia claimed 346 lives.
During the meeting, China’s authority reviewed the changes made to 737 MAX aircraft and evaluated improved pilot training plans, Chinese state-controlled media reported on September 20, 2022.
The meeting did not result in a date for when airlines can resume flights with the MAX in China’s skies. Instead, the CAAC raised additional questions regarding the 737 MAX aircraft. It said it will release a second revision of the “Boeing 737 Series Aircraft Review Report” once all questions are resolved.
The meeting was organized a day before Boeing announced that it will remarket some 737 MAX aircraft built for Chinese customers.
Boeing’s CFO Brian West said on September 15, 2022, the backlog for undelivered Boeing 737 MAX aircraft stood at around 290 as of July 2022, with half dedicated to serving the Chinese market.
The CAAC had previously indicated that it was happy with design changes proposed by Boeing to software and display situations and was planning an airworthiness directive with information on procedures for pilots to follow in the event of similar problems to those that caused the crashes.
China is the last major country not to have recertified the MAX to fly again.