|
Boeing faces a December deadline to win approval from the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the 737 MAX 7 and 10
variants, or it must meet new modern cockpit-alerting
requirements that could significantly delay the plane's entry
into service.
Southwest Airlines Pilots Association President Capt. Casey
Murray said in an interview Friday it made sense to have common
alerts through the 737 family of airplanes.
"We believe in the interest of safety and commonality that it
should be certified under the same rules," Murray said, adding
he supports the legislation's goal to require future planes to
have modern cockpit alerting systems.
On Wednesday, the Allied Pilots Association representing 15,000
American Airlines pilots said it opposes the extension for the
Boeing MAX airplanes.
Both American and Southwest fly the MAX 8. Southwest has ordered
MAX 7 planes.
Boeing argues it is safer to have one common 737 cockpit
alerting system. "A consistent operational experience across an
airplane family is an industry best practice that benefits
flight crews and the flying public by enhancing safety and
reducing risk," Boeing said.
The requirements were adopted by Congress as part of
certification reform passed after two fatal 737 MAX crashes
killed 346 people and led to the bestselling plane's 20-month
grounding.
Reuters reported on Monday that Boeing does not anticipate
winning regulatory approval for the MAX 10 before next summer,
according to an FAA letter.
Last week, Senator Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the
Commerce Committee, proposed extending the deadline for Boeing
to win approval for the new variants until September 2024 and
hopes to attach the proposal to an annual defense bill.
The Air Line Pilots Association, representing 65,000 airline
pilots in North America, did not say Friday if it supports or
opposes the extension.
(Reporting by David ShepardsonEditing by Chris Reese and Nick
Zieminski)
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
