Boeing 737 MAX Set to Fly in UAE Airspace Once Again

The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is expected to clear Boeing’s 737 MAX jets to fly again in its airspace subject to certain compliance norms.

According to a statement released by the GCAA, local airlines are required to first provide a clear plan for operating the plane safely and address the differences between requirements set by US and European regulators.

Foreign airlines operating the 737 MAX in the UAE will need to provide proof of compliance with a statement from their respective home country regulators.

Clearance from the UAE regulator is critical to the aircraft's global operations and future prospects as Dubai and Abu Dhabi today are major hubs for global aviation.

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Moreover, state-owned flydubai has bet heavily on the 737 MAX and placed a $27 billion order for 175 aircraft during the Dubai Airshow in 2017. Currently, flydubai has 14 737 MAX planes that have been grounded since March 2019.

The 737 Max' Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) is thought to have been responsible for its prior crashes and the entire system has now been overhauled by Boeing with software upgrades and hundreds of hours of test flights.

Consequently, pilots will have to be retrained and re-certified by the relevant authorities on the new systems before they can fly the planes again.

The USA was one of the first countries to lift the ban on the aircraft while China is one of the only major aviation markets yet to lift its curbs on the 737 MAX.

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