Cayman Airways’ 737 Max 8 aircraft has successfully passed its maintenance flight test on Saturday evening.
After having been grounded for nearly a year CAL’s Max 8, VP-CIW, was taken out for an hour-long test flight.
The plane departed the Owen Roberts International Airport in an easterly direction; then upon reaching Little Cayman, turned around and returned to ORIA.
“The aircraft functioned perfectly in all respects and phases of flight,” said Fabian Whorms, CAL President and CEO.
The flight attracted scores of onlookers who pulled off the road to watch the plane take off and touch down.
Flying the aircraft were Chief Pilot Captain Perry Panton and Captain Steven Coe, Cayman Airways Manager of Flight Training and Standards. Also on board were Captain Lindsay Cadenhead of the CAACI and Captain Tim Patterson from Boeing as observers.
Saturday’s flight was a maintenance flight ahead of a repositioning flight to have upgrades accomplished on the aircraft before it can return to service, Whorms explained.
Despite the positive flight the Max 8 will not return to service until full clearance is given by aviation authorities.
Read the full story in Monday’s edition of the Cayman Compass.
Additional reporting by Reshma Ragoonath.
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