Passenger Aircraft with Boeing 737 Max 9 Model Resumes Flights after Three-Week Halt, COO Sits Near Service Outlet During Maiden Passenger Voyage
After a three-week grounding, the Boeing 737 MAX 9 has resumed service with Alaska Airlines. Flight N929AK, originally scheduled to depart Seattle at 3:51 pm local time (6:51 pm ET), took off on Friday afternoon and is now expected to land in San Diego around 9 pm ET, following a delay.
Safety Measures Implemented
Following the grounding, both Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have worked closely with airlines to refine inspection procedures for the MAX 9. The aircraft's Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) has undergone software updates, including additional layers of redundancy, improved sensor logic, and enhanced pilot training.
Airlines, including Alaska, have conducted additional simulator sessions and training for pilots to familiarize them with the new procedures and updated MCAS software. Regulators have also mandated rigorous inspections of airframes, especially the door plugs and related structures, before allowing the aircraft to resume commercial operations.
Operational Status
The focus of recent reporting and regulatory attention has shifted to the uncertained MAX 7 and MAX 10 variants, not the MAX 8 and MAX 9 models already in service. However, one recent issue affecting all MAX variants, including the MAX 9, has been a concern with the engine anti-ice system.
In August 2023, the FAA issued an airworthiness directive allowing MAX 8 and MAX 9 flights to continue, but instructing pilots to use the system for no more than five minutes at a time. Boeing has committed to implementing a permanent engineering fix for this issue, expected to be certified in 2025.
Return to Service
Alaska Airlines has three scheduled Max 9 flights on Friday, while United Airlines plans its first Max 9 flight for Sunday. Cleared Max 9s are available as spares for both airlines in the meantime. Passengers, like Kent and Doug Bowman, have chosen to fly on the Max 9 despite concerns about safety, expressing trust in the safety of the plane.
Alaska Airlines COO, Constance von Muehlen, accompanied the flight and expressed full confidence in the aircraft. Initially anxious, she later stated that she realized it's probably the safest plane out there right now, having gone through lots of tests since the grounding.
Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have been canceling numerous daily flights since the grounding of the Max 9. Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci anticipates a return to full capacity for the Max 9 once it is back in service. The grounding was due to a door plug blowout incident on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282.
Sources:
- Boeing 737 MAX: What we know about the return to service
- Boeing 737 MAX: What's the latest on the return to service?
- Alaska Airlines resumes 737 Max flights as Boeing jet returns to U.S. skies
- Boeing 737 Max 9 returns to service with Alaska Airlines
- Despite concerns about safety, some passengers have chosen to fly on the Max 9, expressing trust in the safety of the plane.
- Alaska Airlines COO, Constance von Muehlen, accompanied the first Max 9 flight after the grounding and stated that the aircraft is probably the safest plane out there currently, having gone through numerous tests since the grounding.
- Following the grounding, the news regarding the uncertain MAX 7 and MAX 10 variants has taken center stage, while the finance industry closely monitors the progress of safety measures implemented on the MAX 8 and MAX 9 models already in service. The aerospace industry, lifestyle, and travel sectors are all affected by the return of these aircraft to service.
