Today we took the final steps to enable the Boeing 737 Max
to safely return to commercial service. And this morning, I signed an order,
rescinding the grounding order that the FAA issued on March 13, 2019.
Now the path that led us to this point was long and grueling,
but we said from the start that we would take the time necessary
to get this right. We were never driven by a timeline, but rather followed a methodical
and deliberate safety process, a process that ultimately took 20 months to complete.
During this time, FAA employees diligently worked on the fixes that were necessary
to address the known safety issues that played a role in the tragic loss of 346 lives aboard
Lion Air flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines flight 302. From the start of this process,
we worked very closely with our foreign counterparts on every aspect of the return to
service. We thoroughly evaluated the certification of the aircraft's automated flight control system.
We saw it and incorporated input from the National Transportation Safety Board,
the Department of Transportation Inspector General, our foreign civil aviation partners,
the aviation industry. and members of the public. We published a proposed air worthiness directive
specifying design changes that must be made before the aircraft could return to commercial service,
and evaluated more than 550 public comments that we received on that proposal.
We also took comments on a draft flight standardization board report,
concerning pilot training for the aircraft. Now shortly after I became FAA Administrator,
i pledged to fly the Boeing 737 Max and promised that I wouldn't unground
it until I was 100 percent comfortable that the aircraft is safe — and in late September,
I took the Max training that was recommended by the joint operations evaluation board,
which included practicing the new emergency procedures in the 737 Max simulator. After that, I
flew the aircraft for about two hours to evaluate its handling qualities and the functionality
of the flight control system. Now, based on all the activities that we've undertaken during the
past 20 months, and my personal experience flying the aircraft, I can tell you now that
I am 100 percent comfortable with my family flying on it this morning. In addition to rescinding the
grounding order, we took a number of other steps. We published the final air worthiness directive,
alerted the international community that we had done so, and published Max training requirements
for U.S operators. Now this doesn't mean that the Max will immediately take to the skies, we will
still have to approve the 737 Max pilot training program for every U.S. airline operating the Max.
Additionally, the FAA will retain its authority to issue air worthiness certificates
and export certificates of airworthiness for all new 737 Max aircraft manufactured
since the FAA issued the grounding order last year. Airlines that have parked Max
aircraft will also have to follow required maintenance steps to prepare them to fly again
following the return to service. We will continue to work closely with our foreign civil
aviation partners to evaluate any potential additional safety enhancements for the Max
including a synthetic speed sensor. We'll conduct the same rigorous continuous operational safety
oversight of the Max as we conduct on all other aircraft makes and models.
Now while I'm confident that the Max is safe, inflight mechanical problems occasionally occur
with every make and model of commercial aircraft; and for that reason, it's inevitable that at some
time in the future a Boeing 737 Max will turn back to its originating airport, divert, or land at its
destination with an actual or suspected inflight problem. While these events can be inconvenient
and unsettling to passengers, they occur virtually every day in our National Airspace System, and are
well handled by professional flight crews and the airlines. The FAA evaluates every such event
involving a U.S. airline and it's very important to differentiate between these routine events
that happen with any aircraft and the acute safety issues that led to the loss of lives,
and grounding of the Max. As i said in September when I flew the Max, not a day goes by that I and
my colleagues don't think about the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines victims and
their families — and our solemn responsibility to identify and address the issues that played a role
in the accidents. It's taken a long time and a lot of effort, but we finally reached that point.
In the coming weeks and months, the FAA will continue to engage with domestic and international
stakeholders as everyone takes the steps required to safely return the aircraft to service.
For the time being, the FAA will inspect every new 737 Max before issuing an air worthiness
certificate. Likewise, the agency will approve the pilot training program for each U.S. operator
and offer any other support needed. As I've said many times, safety is our top priority. Each day,
aviation professionals across this industry come to work looking for ways to do their jobs better.
The traveling public expects and deserves nothing less. Thank you.