Boeing issues Max 9 inspection memo in step to ungrounding jets

Boeing Co. took the first step toward returning its grounded 737 Max 9 jetliners to service, issuing guidance to airlines on the inspections required following a mid-air structural failure late last week. The so-called multi-operator message gives detailed instructions on the steps to be taken before lifting a Federal Aviation Administration grounding order imposed in the wake of the Jan. 5 mishap on an Alaska Airlines flight. “Boeing 737-9 aircraft will remain grounded until operators complete enhanced inspections which include both left and right cabin door exit plugs, door components, and fasteners,” the FAA said in a statement. “Operators must also complete corrective action requirements based on findings from the inspections prior to bringing any aircraft back into service.” The go-ahead to inspect the planes marks concrete progress for Boeing after the accident slowed CEO Dave Calhoun’s effort to overcome a series of quality issues on the 737 Max. The FAA had caused some initial confusion over the process for returning the 171 Max 9 jets to service after inspections, JPMorgan analyst Seth Seifman said in a Jan. 7 note to clients. “A key question is how regulators address the incident, and while the FAA’s initial requirement for a 4-8 hour inspection did not seem like a major impediment to a return to service, the path back has become less clear since then,” he wrote. <br/>