Originally Posted by
MechEngr
All that is in question is the extension, not the press for a particular compliance mechanism. So, it won't matter to the EASA until the FAA t approves the compliance mechanism results or approves the plane without them and EASA doesn't like the solution It's only a possible problem if the FAA allows Boeing to build one version with and one version without in order to satisfy the US market as to what the EASA would do. I believe Southwest pilots essentially voted "without."
Doesn't the extension concern the approved certification basis, which defines the amendment levels of the rules in play? It's not a small issue. Updating the cert basis would almost certainly lead to new negotiations over provisions of 21.101, and in this regulatory climate, far less lenient than when the original certification basis was agreed. EASA, of course, was reluctant to agree to the original certification basis and less likely to re-approve the same. As others have suggested, this probably nixes the airplane because redesign to comply with an updated certification basis is cost prohibitive.