The Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam (CAAV) has lifted a ban on the Boeing 737 Max three years after two crashes, one in Indonesia in 2018 and the other in Ethiopia in 2019, which killed a total of 346 people.
 

Boeing 737 MAX aircraft at the factory in Renton, Washington, USA. (File photo: AFP/VNA)

According to a CAAV representative, the decision to allow the Boeing 737 Max back to service in Viet Nam takes effect from December 31, 2021.

The decision was made on the ground of Boeing's safety measures based on the results of the investigation into the two crashes, assessment of aviation authorities around the world, and the safety index of the Boeing 737 Max after being licensed to operate again as well as the evaluation of the Aviation Safety Risk Assessment Council of the CAAV.

According to the CAAV, after the conclusion of the investigation, the manufacturer of Boeing has repaired a flight control system blamed for the two crashes that led to the ban, updated operating manuals and increased pilot training.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a technical directive requiring design changes to be made before the aircraft returns to commercial operation on November 18, 2020. The administration also issued the B737 Max Master Minimum Equipment List. The Boeing 737 Max was cleared to return to the skies in the US from December 28, 2020.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted the ban on Boeing 737 Max from operating in the airspace of most European countries.

In September 2021, the CAAV proposed the Ministry of Transport allow the authority to carry out necessary procedures for Boeing 737 Max to fly to and from Viet Nam as well as for granting certification for Boeing 737 Max to be imported into Viet Nam.

Source: VNA