The National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) concluded this Wednesday, after a long independent work, to re-authorize the operation of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in Brazil. With a process that lasted approximately two years, the validation of the modifications of the project was made by ANAC after the approval of the certifying authority, the American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
ANAC withdrew the Airworthiness Directive that restricted MAX’s operation in Brazil after agreeing with the FAA’s assessment of all the technical and regulatory elements necessary to address safety issues. The FAA Airworthiness Directive, released on November 18, was also adopted by ANAC and is automatically effective in Brazil, and must be complied with immediately by the air operators that intend to operate the model. Currently, only Gol Linhas Aéreas has Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in the Brazilian fleet but renamed it to 737-8.
The approval of the new Boing 737 MAX 8 project brought together only the four aviation authorities that make up the Certification Management Team (CMT) forum: the European Union authority European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Canadian Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA ) and the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), who discussed together with the FAA what would be the requirements for the return of the aircraft model to operations.
New project and next steps
Among the design requirements are the determination to reconfigure the flight control system of this model of aircraft, the correction of the routing of the cable set, revisions of procedures incorporated in the flight manual, and the recalibration tests of the sensors. Additionally, there was also a review of the pilot training program.
Technically, the return of operations is permitted with the revocation of the Emergency Airworthiness Directive (DAE) No. 2019-03-01, which prohibited the commercial operation of this aircraft model in the country, and with proof of compliance with the training requirements for crew and design for airplanes. The DAE was also revoked this Wednesday and Gol Linhas Aéreas continues to implement, under supervision, the necessary requirements for safely returning operations with Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
ANAC participation in the validation process
Since April 2019, when Boeing started activities to recertify the proposed modifications, ANAC has been dedicating efforts to the safe return of Boeing 737-8 MAX operations in Brazil. In all, about 20 professionals of the Agency, among engineers of diverse specialties and pilots, including test crews, participated in this process.
Emphasizing the importance of coordination between CMT authorities for the development of this recertification activity, ANAC’s Airworthiness Superintendent, Roberto Honorato, states that “this thorough evaluation of the flight control system is an unprecedented record in aviation history” In addition, “the revised modifications and procedures provide complete confidence for the resumption of operations of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 in Brazil”, highlights Honorato.
The implementation of other improvements, not conditioning the return of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 to operations, remains in progress with the objective of continuing to improve the use of the aircraft model and its functionalities.
