NEW DELHI: After two-and-a-half years, India’s air safety regulator- Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)- has allowed Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to fly again in Indian airspace.
DGCA and aviation regulators worldwide had banned the controversial aircraft from flying in March 2019 following two fatal accidents.
DGCA in its order on Thursday said that the operation of Boeing 737 MAX planes are permitted “only upon satisfaction of applicable requirements for return to service”.
DGCA chief Arun Kumar said the basis of giving clearance to Max in India is approval given to it by Europe and the USA and “no untoward reporting” since it resumed operations in December 2020.
“Based on design changes by M/s Boeing, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) on November 18, 2020, mandating actions for 737 Max airplanes return to service (RTS),” said Kumar. 737 Max has been flying in the United States since December last year.
“Subsequently, European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) also issued its own AD on February 17, 2021 which has been mandated by DGCA for compliance on Indian registered fleet,” Kumar added.
The order noted that worldwide 17 regulators have permitted operation of Boeing 737 Max airplane.
It said, “A sizeable number of airlines (34) with B737 Max airplane (345) are operating currently and have attained 1,22,824 total departures with 2,89,537 cumulative hours since the un-grounding from December 9, 2020, with no untoward reporting.”
China is the only major aviation market where regulators are yet to give approval to 737 planes.
Meanwhile, SpiceJet, the sole operator of these aircrafts in India, said it has entered into a “settlement” with a major lessor (called Avolon) of Boeing 737 Max planes, paving the way for the airline’s 737 aircraft to return to service.
The airline said it expects to start operations of Max planes around the end of September this year, subject to regulatory approvals.
SpiceJet expects to start Max planes operations in September
SpiceJet, the sole operator of these aircrafts in India, said it has entered into a “settlement” with lessor Avolon of Boeing 737 Max planes, paving the way for the airline’s 737 aircraft to return to service. The airline expects to start operations of Max planes next month.