Transport Canada (TC), the Canadian authority responsible for civil aviation, released a statement that there would be differences between it and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the Boeing 737 MAX un-grounding.
The FAA ungrounded the Boeing 737 MAX on November 18, 2020, following 20 months of hibernation after the second fatal accident involving the aircraft type occurred in Ethiopia in March 2019. However, the grounding period seemingly undermined the FAA’s global status, as several aviation authorities, including TC and Europe’s European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) indicated that they would conduct independent reviews of the 737 MAX. Previously, via bilateral agreements, the FAA was the designated certifying authority for commercial aircraft built in the United States.
“We acknowledge that the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released an Airworthiness Directive for the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft,” in a statement commented Transport Canada (TC). “Transport Canada safety experts continue their independent validation process to determine whether to approve the proposed changes to the aircraft.”
However, according to the Canadian authority, there would be differences between its eventual approval and the FAA’s clearance. Namely, these differences would include additional procedures on the flight deck, during pre-flight and variation in pilot training, prior to the un-grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX.
“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 the department is fully satisfied that all its safety concerns have been addressed, and that enhanced flight crew procedures and training are in place in Canada,” the statement reads.
Transport Canada has not indicated a preliminary timeline of its own approval for operators to un-ground the 737 MAX, instead stating that it expected the process to conclude very soon.
In Canada, there are three operators of the Boeing 737 MAX: Air Canada (ADH2), Sunwing Airlines and WestJet.