Southwest pilots union backs Boeing on MAX 7, 10 certification extension By Reuters

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The union representing about 10,000 Southwest Airways (NYSE:) pilots instructed Reuters on Friday it helps an effort in Congress to increase an exemption from trendy cockpit alerting necessities for the Boeing (NYSE:) 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 airplanes.

Boeing faces a December deadline to win approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the 737 MAX 7 and 10 variants, or it should meet new trendy cockpit-alerting necessities that might considerably delay the aircraft’s entry into service.

Southwest Airways Pilots Affiliation President Capt. Casey Murray mentioned in an interview Friday it made sense to have widespread alerts by way of the 737 household of airplanes.

“We consider within the curiosity of security and commonality that it needs to be licensed underneath the identical guidelines,” Murray mentioned, including he helps the laws’s purpose to require future planes to have trendy cockpit alerting methods.

On Wednesday, the Allied Pilots Affiliation representing 15,000 American Airways (NASDAQ:) pilots mentioned it opposes the extension for the Boeing MAX airplanes.

Each American and Southwest fly the MAX 8. Southwest has ordered MAX 7 planes.

Boeing argues it’s safer to have one widespread 737 cockpit alerting system. “A constant operational expertise throughout an airplane household is an trade finest apply that advantages flight crews and the flying public by enhancing security and decreasing danger,” Boeing mentioned.

The necessities had been adopted by Congress as a part of certification reform handed after two deadly 737 MAX crashes killed 346 individuals and led to the bestselling aircraft’s 20-month grounding.

Reuters reported on Monday that Boeing doesn’t anticipate successful regulatory approval for the MAX 10 earlier than subsequent summer season, based on an FAA letter.

Final week, Senator Roger Wicker, the highest Republican on the Commerce Committee, proposed extending the deadline for Boeing to win approval for the brand new variants till September 2024 and hopes to connect the proposal to an annual protection invoice.

The Air Line Pilots Affiliation, representing 65,000 airline pilots in North America, didn’t say Friday if it helps or opposes the extension.