Boeing hires its own pilots to smooth return of 737

<div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="text-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <p><strong class="css-14iz86j-BoldText e5tfeyi0">Aerospace giant Boeing is reportedly hiring 160 pilots to be embedded at airlines in a bid to help the 737 Max return to smooth service.</strong></p> </div> </div> <div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="text-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <p>The new “Global Engagement Pilots” will act as instructors or cockpit observers on 35-day assignments.</p> </div> </div> <div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="text-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <p>The planes were grounded worldwide in March 2019 following two deadly crashes that killed 346 people.</p> </div> </div> <div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="text-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <p>Brazil's Gol recently became the first airline to resume commercial flights with the model.</p> </div> </div> <div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="text-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <p>“We continue to work closely with global regulators and customers to safely return the 737-8 and 737-9 to service worldwide,” Boeing told the BBC in a statement.</p> </div> </div> <div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="text-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <p>The move is part of a broader programme to support customers on all Boeing commercial models.</p> </div> </div> <div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="text-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <p>The pilots will be paid an equivalent annual salary that could reach $200,000, for a total potential cost of $32m, according to Reuters news agency.</p> </div> </div> <div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="text-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <p>Pilots in the programme must have 1,000 hours of instructor experience and “no incidents, accidents, losses or violations,” and be licensed on the 737 and other Boeing jetliners.</p> </div> </div> <div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="unordered-list-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <div class="css-1pzprxn-BulletListContainer e5tfeyi3"> <p> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="text-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <p>The strategy also includes 24/7 surveillance of 737 Max flights globally and talking points for flight attendants to reassure passengers.</p> </div> </div> <div class="css-mysbf6-ComponentWrapper-CrossheadComponentWrapper e1xue1i84" data-component="crosshead-block"> <h2 class="css-qozapo-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10">Cleared for take-off</h2> </div> <div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="text-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <p>Lion Air Flight 610 crashed after take-off from Jakarta in October 2018, while Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed after take-off from Addis Ababa airport in March 2019.</p> </div> </div> <div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="text-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <p>Before the 737 Max was cleared to fly again, Boeing updated flight control software, revised crew procedures and rerouted internal wiring.</p> </div> </div> <div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="text-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <p>When it was cleared to fly again, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration Steve Dickson said he was "100% confident" in the safety of the plane.</p> </div> </div> <div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="text-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <p>The European Union Aviation Safety Agency is yet to clear the plane for a return to service, but is expected to do so in January.</p> </div> </div> <div class="css-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper e1xue1i80" data-component="media-block"> <figure class="css-2y05cd-StyledFigure e34k3c20"> <div class="css-kwaqyc-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c22"> <div id="bbcMediaPlayer0" class="css-1uy4vn0-Container e1h75hkw0"> <div id="smphtml5iframebbcMediaPlayer0wrp"><iframe id="smphtml5iframebbcMediaPlayer0" lang="en-GB" title="Boeing 'doesn't understand our grief'" src="https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.36.7/iframe.html" name="smphtml5iframebbcMediaPlayer0" width="300" height="150" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> </div> </div> <figcaption class="css-1rnnz6t-StyledFigureCaption e34k3c21"><span class="css-oyqyoe-VisuallyHidden e1y6uwnp0">media caption</span>Zipporah Kuria's father Joseph Waithaka was one of 157 people killed when a Boeing 737 Max crashed in March 2019</figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="text-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <p>A smooth return to service is seen as vital for Boeing, which announced its fourth straight quarterly loss in October, along with deeper job cuts.</p> </div> </div> <div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="text-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <p>The 737 MAX issue saw annual orders drop to their lowest level in two decades.</p> </div> </div> <div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83" data-component="text-block"> <div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2"> <p>Boeing’s problems have also been compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has affected the entire aviation sector.</p> </div> </div>