US regulator clears Boeing’s 737 Max to fly again

The US FAA issued an order on Wednesday to allow Boeing’s 737 Max to return to the skies, clearing the way for other regulators to follow and airlines to restore the plane to their schedules. The move by US regulators, which had been expected, marks the beginning of the end of the worst crisis in Boeing’s century-long history. Two 737 Max crashes killed 346 people, and afterwards destroyed billions in Boeing’s market value, led to the departure of former chief executive Dennis Muilenburg and tarnished the reputation of one of the most storied US manufacturers. Still, the aerospace company can no longer hope to rake in cash from speedy deliveries to eager customers. The FAA is requiring that Boeing change flight control software, known as the Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS, which was a critical factor in the two fatal crashes which happened within five months. The software will be unable to activate repeatedly and can only do so with input from two sensors, instead of just one. The agency is also requiring changes to the plane’s wiring. The FAA is additionally requiring that pilots train to fly the Max in flight simulators — something Boeing avoided before the two crashes, before reversing its opposition in January — and the regulator also plans to inspect the jets for foreign objects such as rags or tools after some were found among grounded planes. “The path that led us to this point was long and gruelling,” said Steve Dickson, FAA administrator. “We were never driven by a timeline but rather followed a methodical and deliberate safety process . . . I can tell you now that I am 100% comfortable with my family flying on [the aircraft].”<br/>