Air Canada and the return into service of the MAX
During the conference call with financial analysts held on May 6, Air Canada President and Chief Executive Officer Calin Rovinescu provided some explanations on how the company manages the withdrawal of its B737MAX aircraft and their eventual return to service.
Air Canada has access to two MAX simulators at the Toronto training facility operated by CAE. At the time of the B737MAX’s withdrawal, Air Canada had approximately 400 pilots trained to fly on this type. Pilot type training is valid for only 12 months and also requires a recurrent six months after the annual training. All the pilots who had been on MAX for more than 12 months were therefore kept on this type and continue to do simulator hours. The training of the last weeks included various scenarios based on the data available following the two accidents involving MAX.
Since Air Canada has simulators at its disposal, the requirement for pilots to take additional training should not cause them too much trouble. Note that Air Canada does not have to limit itself to the prescribed training, Air Canada could develop a more extensive training for its pilots if it finds Transport Canada’s recommendations to be insufficient.
Boeing is currently conducting an informational tour of MAX customers to explain in detail how to get the aircraft back into service. According to Mr. Rovinescu, it will take several weeks before the 24 B737MAX are put back into service after the ban is left. If the MAX ban is lifted before the end of the summer, Air Canada should be able to receive the other 12 MAXs scheduled for delivery in 2019 before the end of the year.If all the countries come to an agreement on the return to service of the MAX and the training to be given to the pilots, Air Canada will benefit from an advantage since it has access to two simulators and a part of its pilots are already training at this moment. The question is whether she will want to be the first to put the MAX back into service and have all the attention that comes with it.
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Just booked my flight for end of September on AC, YUL – YVR
2 choices are available based on my schedule:
-AC 301 flying at 7:25 am on A330
-the one flying at 9:10 am on MAX 737 (now operated by Rouge on 767-300)
My pick was AC 301, even if i have to wake up 2 hours earlier. This is how much, as a regular passenger, is scared of MAX 737. I wish they never put the MAX back in service.
I have flown on the 9:10 AM flight form YUL to YVR 10 days ago, passengers next to me told me they would not have make the trip to YVR if on a MAX. No matter how much airlines like the MAX, if passengers don’t want to fly on it, then airlines don’t need it anymore.
Exactly André, do you have any channel to convey the message to AC?
No special way to let them know, don’t worry, with todays big data AC already knows how big are the passengers are afraid of the MAX. Il passengers are avoiding to book on MAX in August and September like you did, this info is already available for the management.