In May 2019, CASA representatives joined their international counterparts in the United States as part of the team reviewing the certification of the Boeing 737-8 MAX flight control system.

Richard Stocker, Manager Aircraft Certification, and Hamish Fraser, Flying Operations Inspector, took part in the Joint Authorities Technical Review, which reviewed the design and certification of the MAX Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System and, specifically, the modifications proposed by Boeing after the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines accidents.

CASA’s technical experts were invited by the United States Federal Aviation Administration to participate in this unique opportunity along with technical experts from around the world. The other review participants were from Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and South America.

Although CASA’s technical experts are not making decisions on the MAX aircraft’s return to service in Australian airspace at this stage, the review process will provide more certainty when it comes time to certify the MAX for Australian operations, along with a greater understanding of the MAX Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System.

The review will also help CASA to understand the failures that took place through the review and certification processes to ensure that they are not repeated in the aircraft certification and acceptance work that CASA performs.

The Joint Authorities Technical Review is expected to complete its work in early
2019–20.