There will be no getting anyway from the biggest story on everyone’s lips around the chalets and halls this year at Le Bourget
The continuing fallout and crisis around Boeing’s 737 MAX airliner following two fatal crashes. Currently grounded, the US manufacturer is seeking regulatory approval to return the aircraft to flight – but at this point it is unknown whether this could be as soon as the end of summer or the end of the year. Boeing will be under an intense media spotlight at the air show, as it grapples with this unprecedented crisis.
Yet the way in which cracks have emerged between international aviation regulators over the grounding of the MAX, means that this issue is far wider than just Boeing. At its core is: has the rest of the world lost its trust in the US FAA’s leadership in aviation safety? If so, this means that the 737 MAX faces an uphill struggle in returning to flight – even if the US gives the green light. What extra assurances will other aviation authorities be content with? For those manufacturers developing new aircraft, whether they be eVTOLs, hybrid-electric regional aircraft or new widebodies, will the experience of the MAX mean increased certification oversight from the FAA and other safety authorities in the future?