EASA sets out plans for 737 MAX validation tests

According to ainonline.com EASA expects to perform its flight tests on the Boeing 737 Max from Vancouver, Canada, starting the week of 7 September, the agency confirmed Thursday. Plans also call for simulator testing to take place at London Gatwick Airport a week earlier, starting 1 September, and for Joint Operations Evaluation Board (JOEB) to convene at Gatwick during the week beginning 14 September.

The announcement comes a day after Transport Canada began its validation flight testing of the Max between Boeing Field in Seattle and Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington. Transport Canada personnel boarded the aircraft in Vancouver due to logistical considerations associated with COVID-19 travel restrictions and conducted the testing in US airspace.

In a statement, EASA said the travel restrictions hindered the scheduling process in its case as well.

“EASA has been working steadily, in close cooperation with the FAA and Boeing, to return the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to service as soon as possible, but only once it is convinced it is safe,” the agency noted. “While Boeing still has some final actions to close off, EASA judges the overall maturity of the re-design process is now sufficient to proceed to flight tests. These are a prerequisite for the European agency to approve the aircraft’s new design.”

Both the European and Canadian tests involve validation of data collected by the Federal Aviation Administration from 29 June to 1 July using a 737 MAX 7.