Voice of America
12 Sep 2019, 01:05 GMT+10
NEW YORK - Boeing's 737 MAX could be brought back into service gradually by government regulators but is still on track to be cleared to fly again in 2019, the company's CEO said Wednesday.
"A phased ungrounding is a possibility," Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg said at an investor conference in California.
The aircraft has been grounded since mid-March following two deadly crashes but could return to the air on a staggered schedule in different countries.
Muilenburg said the company is still working through a number of questions with the US Federal Aviation Administration and other regulators but that "all of that work supports our timeline for an early fourth quarter return to service."
The company is addressing questions from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, which has expressed concerns about pilot training requirements and about a malfunction of the "angle of attack" which triggered an anti-stall system linked to the deadly crashes of Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines planes.
"I wouldn't see those as divisive," Muilenburg said of the EASA queries. "I just think those are questions that we need to answer as part of the process."
Boeing has cut production of the 737 MAX from 52 to 42 per month due to the grounding and said in July it could cut production further or even temporarily halt output if the grounding drags out much longer.
Muilenburg said the company still viewed a temporary shutdown as a possibility under certain scenarios, but that "our bias right now is to maintain a stable rate at 42 a month."
Get a daily dose of Beijing Bulletin news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Beijing Bulletin.
More InformationNEW DELHI, India: Apple has ramped up shipments of iPhones from India to the United States, chartering aircraft to move hundreds of...
TAIPEI, TAIWAN: A strong push from artificial intelligence demand lifted TSMC's quarterly revenue to new highs, with the chipmaker...
The US president's Golden Dome initiative envisions armed satellites designed to neutralize incoming missiles ...
The US presidents Golden Dome initiative envisions armed satellites designed to neutralize incoming missiles Elon Musk's SpaceX has...
New Delhi [India], April 18 (ANI): In a major step to combat the worsening water crisis in the national capital, the Delhi government...
Narendra Modi said he discussed collaboration in technology and innovation with the tech mogul as Tesla and SpaceX eye entry to the...
FORT WORTH, Texas: American Airlines will begin offering free high-speed Wi-Fi to passengers in January 2026, joining a growing list...
LONDON, UK: Electric vehicle sales surged globally in March, with strong growth in China and Europe offsetting slower momentum in North...
New York City: New York: Goldman Sachs has signaled a prolonged downturn in oil prices, forecasting a steady decline through the end...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks were volatile again Friday as President Donald Trump blasted Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell for...
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The Europesn Central Bank has slashed official interest rates in the wake of the financial crisis triggered by...
BISMARCK, North Dakota: Federal officials have ordered the company running the Keystone Pipeline to take several safety steps after...