WASHINGTON, USA – The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing updates to the Flight Standardization Board (FSB) report and Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL) for the Boeing 737 MAX. The draft updates, which are subject to public comment, primarily reflect differences between the original 737 MAX and the new 737-8200 series airplane.
Airlines use the FSB report to develop pilot training. The new 737-8200 can carry up to 200 passengers and is equipped with an additional exit door. The FAA has proposed additional training to account for design changes associated with these features. The draft FSB report also includes minor revisions that are part of the agency’s ongoing continued operational safety oversight. None of the proposed changes would affect the training curriculum that the FAA approved as part of the return to service of the 737 MAX.
The MMEL spells out the circumstances under which airlines may still be operate flights without certain systems or components. The proposed MMEL adds new relief for items that were identified through the agency’s ongoing interactions with operators and the manufacturer. None of the proposed revisions involve the aircraft’s automated flight control system, which was the subject of a 20-month review and certification following the fatal accidents of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302.
The FAA will accept comments on the draft FSB report through February 16, 2021. Comments on the draft MMEL will be accepted through February 24, 2021. The FAA will post final versions of both documents after the agency reviews and addresses those comments.
