As United Airlines prepares to resume flight training for the 737 MAX and convince employees that the aircraft is safe, it will base operations out of two hubs.
United Airlines Will Base 737 MAX in Denver + Houston
All United Boeing 737 pilots will eventually undergo training to acquaint or re-acquaint themselves with the 737 MAX. Training will commence in January. The training will be conducted under the review and guidance of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). United plans to “originate” its MAX flights in Denver (DEN) and Houston (IAH). That doesn’t mean you won’t see them in other hubs, but (at least for now) the 737 MAX aircraft will be based in DEN and IAH and be operated by pilots from those bases.
United’s Attempt to Convince Employees The 737 MAX Is Safe
United will host town halls across its network geared toward all operational work groups starting in January. In a memo to pilots shared with Live and Let’s Fly, the goal will be convince employees the 737 MAX is indeed airworthy:
It’s important our employees understand all the steps we’ve taken and that the MAX aircraft are as safe as any of our aircraft flying today.
United further insists the 737 MAX is indisputably a safe aircraft:
The 737 MAX has been one of the most heavily scrutinized aircraft in the history of commercial aviation, and no stone has been left unturned in this process – the MAX has been meticulously and thoroughly vetted by other industry professionals and pilots alike. Contributing factors to the previous issues with the aircraft have now been designed out of the system, and the software on our MAX aircraft has been updated in accordance with FAA directives.
I’m not sure the recent 20/20 expose on ABC helped matters, tough…
Relax, You Won’t Be Forced To Fly On The 737 MAX
United Airlines has the most generous policy of the three U.S. 737 MAX operators when it comes to switching flights. United will not only rebook you for free on another flight, but it will allow you to refund your ticket if turns out your flight will be operated by a 737 MAX.
If you do not wish to fly on a MAX aircraft, we will rebook you at no charge or refund your ticket. This includes domestic ticket changes, Basic Economy tickets and international tickets if you move from one of our MAX flights to one of our non-MAX United or United Express flights. If your original itinerary involved another carrier, we will attempt to rebook you on your original airline on a non-MAX flight as well.
When we begin to fly the MAX once again, you should feel completely confident that we have taken all the necessary steps to confirm that our 737 MAX aircraft are as safe as any of our aircraft flying today. Safety has been and always will be our top priority, and it’s something we will never compromise for any reason.
United will even attempt to rebook you on non-MAX flight if the flight is operated by a partner airline.
> Read More:Want A Truly Flexible Ticket? Book A Boeing 737 MAX
CONCLUSION
While United has not announced a specific date in which the 737 MAX will return to service, it is preparing its employees for a re-launch in early 2021. We now know that the MAX will initially be based out of Denver and Houston.
Will you fly on the 737 MAX? If not, what would it take to change your mind?
I would have no issue flying on the MAX.
I am happy to fly on 737 MAX. Especially with UA trained pilots.
Yep…no problem flying on the MAX.
I wouldn’t fly on it. I know that is not rational (there is a 99.9999999% chance that it is totally fixed and normal) but if I have a choice of plane (which I do) why put myself through the stress?
I plan to avoid the MAX by only flying airlines that do not have this aircraft in their fleet. (Even if it’s safe, the plane is uncomfortable, with the tight seating and miniscule lavatories.)
Allegiant flies airbus’s, that’s how I intend to fly state side.
I’ll only fly on it if they require passengers to show a vaccination certificate.
I would have preferred they were based in VC ROW or MHV
You can say lion air was an accident (albeit disputable the burden of negligence). However, how can a corporation like Boeing and government body FAA falls into same hole, twice! It simply shows Boeing and FAA never have the intention to right the wrong that has happened in lion air. If you can hide it, why admit it? Until PRC take action…..
So… Is Boeing and FAA’s corporate psychologist already determined now is the time to continue the lies? Maybe getting some blog writers in their side would help. Who knows? Sheeps are gullible…..
I will try to avoid the MAX whenever possible, until such time as I am confident that the engineers have overcome this aircraft’s awkward aerodynamics that were the result of greed. From a technical standpoint, this plane is garbage. And from a comfort standpoint, this plane is garbage. There’s no upside in flying an overcrowded sardine can and wondering if this will be the day that it decides to take itself on a roller coaster ride that ends in a high speed collision with terrain.