As we anticipated last week, GOL already had almost 30 flights scheduled with the Boeing 737 MAX during December after the Brazilian ANAC granted again its certificate of airworthiness.
Finally today the airline confirmed that this December 9 it will operate the first commercial flight with a 737 MAX, becoming the first company in the world to do so after almost 20 months.
Initially, the flights will depart from the GOL hub in São Paulo / Guarulhos, hoping to reach the end of the month with its seven Boeing 737 MAX 8s enabled to operate, although they will be reincorporated to service as operational needs arise.
“Our priority is always the safety of our Clients,” said Celso Ferrer, GOL’s VP of Operations and commercial pilot, already trained to fly the 737 MAX.
“In the last 20 months, we have followed the development of the most comprehensive safety review in the history of commercial aviation, bringing together regulatory agencies and airlines from around the world, to monitor and contribute to system improvements and training of aircraft pilots. Consequently, after the new certification of the Boeing 737 MAX by FAA (Federal Aviation Administration of the United States) and by ANAC (National Agency of Administration of Civil Aviation of Brazil), we have total confidence in the return from MAX to service ”, Celso emphasized.
During the last weeks, GOL trained 140 pilots in conjunction with Boeing, meeting all the technical and operational requirements described in the plans approved by the regulators. They took place in simulators of the MAX in the United States. This was complemented by a series of technical check flights.
The airline also highlighted the work of the technical area, in charge of its GOL Aerotech unit, in the tasks of de-preservation of the MAX carried out in the maintenance center located at Confins airport, Belo Horizonte.
In an interview conducted this afternoon from there and in which Aeroin.net, our associated media in Brazil participated, GOL’s CEO Paulo Kakinoff announced that all passengers will be informed when their flight is in a 737 MAX and that those who do not feel safe to board will be able to raise their doubts with the airline staff. If they still do not want to fly on the airplane, they can change their flight at no cost, even if they are already on board.
