Looking beyond the technical fix that Boeing say they are close to completing, what interests me is the global reaction to this fix from airworthiness authorities. It seems likely that the FAA will approve the modification – presumably they are very much in the loop – but what about outside the US? We know at least EASA and the Canadian TCCA have said they will want to independently certify the fix, and possibly go deeper? Are other authorities likely to follow suit? Also one wonders when this process would start; immediately after Boeing release the mod, after the preliminary Ethiopian Airlines crash Report or even the final Lion Air and Ethiopian reports?
And then of course there is the timescale for such approvals or certifications to be implemented; how long would it take, not forgetting the pressure that will be on them from the affected Airlines. Assuming the US 737 Max fleet gets the go ahead and embodies the software update would we see 737 Max’s flying there but still grounded outside the US, maybe for months. One can imagine the American public’s unease at flying on the aircraft, knowing it is still grounded elsewhere.
Lastly, and the worst case scenario for Boeing, what if non-US authorities fail to certify the fix. It seems to me very unwise of Boeing/FAA to permit flying to commence in the US, knowing that other airworthiness authorities haven’t completed their own certification.