Several American airlines are reportedly all for collecting Boeing 737 Max jets once the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approves the delivery of the troubled planes before the year ends. These airlines are willing to bet on the grounded jets with or without the approval for new pilot training.
According to Reuters, three people briefed on the situation did not mention any U.S. airlines due to the uncertainty on when the FAA will approve the stalled delivery of 737 Max aircraft.
However, some of the airlines that are waiting for the deliveries include United Airlines, American Airlines Group Inc., and Southwest Airlines. Alaska Air Group had also been waiting for its fleet to arrive.
Due to the recent revelations, the issue is now being turned back to the pilot training that many industry experts mentioned shortly after the second Boeing 737 Max crash in March. The sector is divided on whether it is necessary to add new pilot training since a new software has been integrated into the anti-stall system of the planes.
News about the eagerness of U.S. airlines to get their deliveries came amid rumors that Boeing is looking at the possibility of delivering 737 Max jets to airlines before 2020 whether or not regulators approve the request for additional pilot training.
People with knowledge of the matter told the Wall Street Journal over the weekend that Boeing has been in talks with global regulators regarding the potential delivery of the 737 Max to airlines even if pilots who will fly the plane do not undergo the debated training required to effectively and safely fly the aircraft.
The company has been hard at work in preparation of a potential grounding lift from the FAA sometime before year-end. Industry experts believe delivering the planes before approvals will reduce the pressure mounting on Boeing and its many troubles over the past months.
It is expected that the FAA will formally approve pilot training sometime early next year. If the forecast happens, airlines will not be allowed to fly passengers until the approvals are confirmed, reducing the worries of people flying with airlines who received the 737 Max deliveries.
Originally, Boeing and the FAA discussed plans to simultaneously approve 737 Max deliveries as well as pilot training simulations. However, criticism from industry experts regarding the company's safety measures hampered plans to lift the grounding that started since March.
The main reason why Boeing wants to make deliveries as soon as possible is it is already lacking in storage space due to the production rate that it has worked on over the past months.
