Originally Posted by
Fly Aiprt
Do they have a choice ?
They do.
If they can’t get the MAX certified in its current iteration they will have to sack it off altogether and concentrate on the next generation (pardon the expression) of narrow bodies. It would make no sense whatsoever to throw money and time into certifying a four year old design. (6 years by the time it is ready for its first revenue flight)
The FAA are stuck between a rock and a hard place here. I am sure that they would love to unground the MAX but know that they can’t sell anything that isn’t as safe as it can be, to other regulators worldwide. Has anyone considered an outcome where the MAX returns to service in the US only so that existing stocks can be sold to offset some of the losses, leaving Boeing to concentrate on a new model?
Or is that just too crazy to contemplate?