Omani CAA ungrounds the B737 MAX

Oman’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a safety circular permitting Oman Air (WY, Muscat) and all foreign carriers to resume B737 MAX operations, subject to the necessary upgrades, training procedures, and regulatory audit. The regulator said the decision did not amount to automatic permission for the flag carrier to restart its B737 MAX operations. Only once Oman Air has implemented all the prescribed modifications, retrained its pilots and been audited will it then okay the aircraft’s return to revenue service. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Oman Air operates five B737-8s and has a further seven on firm order from Boeing. The airline placed an order for a total of fifteen units in 2015 but cancelled three aircraft – msn 63358, 63359, and 63360 – in October 2020. Having already been built, the trio are currently stored as “white tails” at Moses Lake, San Antonio Lackland, and Victorville, respectively. Oman is the third Gulf country to unground the B737 MAX, following the United Arab Emirates (where flydubai recently began proving flights) and Saudi Arabia (where no airline operates the type).