Brazil ends Boeing 737 MAX ban, planes could fly by year-end

Brazilian aviation regulator ANAC on Wednesday lifted the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX, following US clearance of the jets for flight, after a redesign prompted by two fatal crashes that killed 346 people. On Tuesday, the EASA set out conditions for putting the grounded jets back into service, including new training and updating MCAS software implicated in the crashes. Brazil’s top regulator said Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes, the only airline to operate the model in Brazil, is implementing the required measures to resume flights. Gol said last week it could resume flying Boeing 737 MAX jets by year-end. Some regulators have been waiting for EASA’s decision before lifting their own measures as the 20-month Boeing safety crisis tested confidence in US aviation leadership. ANAC superintendent of airworthiness José Roberto Honorato said the Brazilian regulator would apply the US FAA conditions for bringing the MAX back to service and downplayed differences between regulators. EASA differed from the FAA in saying pilots could stop a “stick shaker” alarm from vibrating if it went off accidentally, halting a distraction thought to have added to the problems of the two crews in handling the fatal flights. It also issued one temporary restriction on autopilot use, unlike the US.<br/>