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Transport ministry lifts ban on Boeing MAX 8 aircraft
The decision ends a 33-month ban on flying the plane in Indonesian airspace.
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Grounded Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are seen parked at Grant County International Airport in Washington, the United States. (Reuters/Lindsey Wasson)
T
he Transportation Ministry has lifted a ban on Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft after nearly three years, having completed evaluations over design changes on a faulty model that was behind two fatal crashes, involving Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines.
In a widely circulated letter dated Dec. 27, Transportation Ministry Air Transportation Director General Novie Riyanto said the ban was lifted effective immediately but stressed that operators had to ensure certain modifications were made before returning the aircraft to service.
The modifications, which mainly relate to the flight control system, are based on United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness standards.
“Until now, several countries have allowed 737 MAX planes to resume operations. Following that trend, the Air Transportation Director General is preparing to issue a letter that lifts the ban on the 737 MAX,” Novie said in a statement on Tuesday.
Currently, 11 Boeing 737 MAX 8s are operated by Indonesian carriers: one by Garuda Indonesia and 10 by Lion Air.
The ministry banned operators from flying the aircraft in Indonesian airspace starting March 2019, shortly after an Ethiopian Airlines flight using the aircraft crashed in Addis Ababa killing all 157 people on board.
Read also: Transportation Ministry grounds Boeing 737 MAX 8s in Indonesia
