# Boeing 737 MAX departs for key test flight in China Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-08-05 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: Boeing conducts flight test to gain approval in China Meta Description: Follow Boeing's journey as it conducts a flight test in China for market approval after fatal crashes, in an attempt to regain trust and entry into the URL: https://financedigest.com/boeing-737-max-departs-for-key-test-flight-in-chinahtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2021-08-05t012955z1lynxmpeh7401xrtroptp4boeing-china-1-1736838053411-compressed.jpg) By Eric M. Johnson and Norihiko Shirouzu SEATTLE/BEIJING (Reuters) -A Boeing Co 737 Max jet departed for China on Wednesday to conduct a flight test as part of the U.S. planemaker’s [attempt to gain approval in the vital travel market](https://www.financedigest.com/jittery-markets-attempt-risk-on-rally-while-waiting-for-powell.html "Jittery markets attempt risk-on rally while waiting for Powell") following two fatal crashes, people familiar with the matter said. Flight-tracking site FlightRadar24 showed a 737 [MAX 7 test plane taking off from Boeing](https://www.financedigest.com/boeing-expects-max-7-to-be-certified-before-max-10-executive.html "Boeing expects MAX 7 to be certified before MAX 10 – executive") Field near Seattle at 8:17 a.m. local time (1517 GMT). It landed in John Rodgers [Field outside Honolulu nearly 5.5 hours later to complete](https://www.financedigest.com/homes-complete-with-community-spirit-at-standgrove-field.html "Homes Complete With Community Spirit At Standgrove Field") the first leg of its trip across the Pacific. Boeing and [China regulators have scheduled re-certification flights and testing](https://www.financedigest.com/china-arrivals-in-uk-next-week-will-not-face-compulsory-covid-tests-independent.html "China arrivals in UK next week will not face compulsory COVID tests -Independent") in the coming days, the people said. The test plane, which lacks the range for a direct flight, is expected to arrive at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport on Aug. 7, [ahead of a simulator test](https://www.financedigest.com/cricket-stokes-looking-good-ahead-of-first-ashes-test-root.html "Cricket-Stokes looking good ahead of first Ashes test – Root") on Aug. 8 and if all goes well a first flight [test in China](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-not-planning-covid-testing-for-travellers-from-china.html "UK not planning COVID testing for travellers from China") on Aug. 11, one of the people said. The [sources declined to be named](https://www.financedigest.com/volkswagen-to-name-bentley-production-chief-as-new-cariad-head-sources.html "Volkswagen to name Bentley production chief as new Cariad head – sources") because they were not authorised to speak publicly about the matter. A Boeing spokesperson declined to comment on the flight and referred questions to regulators. Boeing continues to work with global [regulators as they complete their validation processes in order to better understand](https://www.financedigest.com/activision-aims-to-help-uk-regulator-better-understand-our-industry.html "Activision aims to help UK regulator ‘better understand our industry’") enhancements to the airplane,” the spokesperson said. Civil Aviation Administration of [China did not respond](https://www.financedigest.com/dutch-responds-to-us-china-policy-with-a-plan-to-curb-semiconductor-tech-exports.html "Dutch responds to US China policy with a plan to curb semiconductor tech exports") immediately to a request for comment. Some 30 airlines and 175 countries have allowed the 737 MAX to return to service following a nearly two year [safety ban](https://www.financedigest.com/paris-considers-electric-scooter-ban-over-safety-concerns.html "Paris considers electric scooter ban over safety concerns") after crashes five months apart killed 346 people, plunging Boeing into a financial crisis long-since compounded by the global coronavirus pandemic. Boeing’s 737 MAX remains grounded in China, where trade tensions between Washington and Beijing have [cut off sales](https://www.financedigest.com/sap-to-cut-3000-jobs-explore-qualtrics-stake-sale.html "SAP to cut 3,000 jobs, explore Qualtrics stake sale") for years, though Chief Executive Dave Calhoun said last week he still expects the 737 MAX to win approval before year-end. Before the 737 MAX was grounded in March 2019 after a second fatal crash, Boeing was selling one quarter of the planes it built [annually to China](https://www.financedigest.com/lights-maker-signify-cuts-annual-outlook-on-lower-consumer-demand-china-woes.html "Lights maker Signify cuts annual outlook on lower consumer demand, China woes") buyers. For years, simmering geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing have caused uncertainty. Industry sources have also cautioned that the worsening COVID-19 pandemic [situation in China](https://www.financedigest.com/who-urges-china-to-share-specific-data-regularly-on-covid-situation.html "WHO urges China to share specific data regularly on COVID situation") may delay the planned testing. (Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle and Norihiko Shirouzu in Beijing; Additional reporting by Tracy Rucinski in Chicago, David Shepardson in Washington and Stella Qiu in Bejing; Editing by Diane Craft) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. 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