EASA’s announcement that it has completed its Boeing 737 MAX flight testing, clearing the way for inter-agency evaluations of the grounded aircraft’s updated training later this year, was relatively low-key. The media has plenty of other topics to focus on at the moment, most significantly COVID-19, but aren’t the two events linked?
Boeing is desperate to get its once most profitable model back into widespread service but, the industry is only just finding its feet again. The threat of a global second pandemic wave is never far from everyone’s thoughts and its highly unlikely that the key players in the commercial aviation industry have the capacity to go through another global grounding.
But despite the negativity and accusations that Boeing has endured, the company is focusing on the fact that when the commercial aviation industry does return to a ‘new normal’, it will be in better position.
I’ve heard estimates from airline operators and CEOs who expect it to be two to five years before crowded terminals and busy skies are a familiar sight once again.
Whatever you may think of Boeing’s reputation, the aircraft manufacturer is looking to the future and intends to be ready to serve its customers. Let’s hope that Airbus, Embraer, ATR and others are ready too should a second wave occur.
