Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

EASA has spelled out its requirements for allowing the Boeing 737 Max to return to service, indicating that it may lift its grounding in mid-January. Less than a week after <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2020-11-18/faa-lifts-grounding-order-boeing-737-max">FAA gave Boeing the go-ahead</a> to return the narrowbody to service, the European agency late on Tuesday published a proposed airworthiness directive (AD), inviting industry comment by December 20. This stage will be followed by a review process before a final AD is published.

 


The proposed requirements from EASA are close to those included in the airworthiness directive Boeing published last week. However, the <a href="https://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/20-184">European AD</a> does include some additional items, such as changes to the stick-shaker stall warning procedure to require circuit breaker deactivation, as well as a ban on RNP-AR approaches and an increased minimum height for single-channel autopilot operations.

 


EASA grounded the 737 Max on March 12, 2019, following two fatal accidents resulting in the loss of 346 lives. In a statement, the agency said it has had 20 technical experts working on the case for the past 20 months to prepare the proposed requirements.

 


According to EASA executive director Patrick Ky, his officials made an early decision to review the entire 737 Max flight control system, rather than limiting its focus to the failures in the aircraft’s maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS), which was identified as a primary cause of both accidents. The agency considered all aspects of the aircraft design that could influence how the flight controls were used in service.

 


“This led, for example, to a deeper study of the wiring installation, which resulted in a change that is now also mandated in the proposed airworthiness directive,” Ky explained. “We also pushed the aircraft to its limits during flight tests, assessed the behavior of the aircraft in failure scenarios, and could confirm that the aircraft is stable and has no tendency to pitch-up even without the MCAS.”

 


EASA also focused on human factors issues, such as the alerts provided for pilots in the event of system failures, as well as all procedures and training. The lengthy investigation following the two accidents found that some pilots were not even aware that the MCAS equipment was on the aircraft and that no caution light appeared to make the pilots of the two crashed aircraft aware that the angle-of-attack sensor was faulty.

 


In addition to the proposed aircraft design changes, EASA also will require mandatory training to ensure that pilots fully understand all aspects of the 737 Max’s flight control system. This will involve additional simulator training.

 


Last week, <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2020-11-18/boeing-readies-return-delivery-737-max">Boeing released</a> an extensive plan covering the return-to-service process for hundreds of aircraft, starting with those in the U.S. In March 2020, the airframer resumed production of the model at a low rate.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

EASA Issues Proposed Conditions for 737 Max Return to Service

The European agency published a proposed airworthiness directive that includes conditions beyond those issued by the FAA last week.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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Kepplair Starts Converting ATR 72 Into Water Bombers

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Only the piston aircraft segment posted a decline

GAMA: Bizjets, T-props, and Rotorcraft Deliveries Up

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Regent Flies Electric Seaglider with Crew for First Time

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Kerry Lynch

Deal to close this year

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

David Donald

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

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