GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes (G3, São Paulo Congonhas) is set to become the first B737 MAX customer to return the type to service with commercial flights set to resume on December 9.
In a statement, the Brazilian carrier said it would gradually deploy its B737-8s on domestic routes out of its São Paulo Guarulhos hub. The aim is to have all seven of its MAX jets cleared for service by the end of the month.
"Our first priority is always the safety of our customers," Celso Ferrer, VP of Operations, said. "Over the past 20 months, we have watched the most comprehensive safety review in the history of commercial aviation unfold, bringing together regulatory agencies and airlines from around the world to monitor and contribute to the upgrades in aircraft systems and pilot training. Consequently, following the new certification of the Boeing 737 MAX by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration, United States) and the Brazilian civil aviation authority (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil - ANAC), we are fully confident in the MAX's return to service."
ANAC decided to reinstate the B737 MAX's type certificate shortly after the FAA cleared the type to return service, albeit with various modifications and aircrew training.
"Before reintegrating the MAX 8 into its fleet, GOL conducted training for 140 of its pilots in conjunction with Boeing (BOE, Washington National), meeting all the technical and operational requirements outlined in the plan approved by FAA and ANAC," it added. "The training took place in the United States using a MAX simulator. The Company also completed a rigorous series of technical flights, which exceeded the requirements set out by aviation regulatory agencies."
GOL has a further ninety-five B737 MAX on order from Boeing including seventy-three MAX 8s and twenty-two MAX 10s.
For its part, American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth) expects to resume MAX 8 operations on December 28.
