After some of United Airlines’ certification activities were suspended as part of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s increased oversight of the carrier following a series of safety-related incidents, United announced to staff on Wednesday that the carrier could resume the certification process, according to an internal memo reviewed by BTN.
“After a careful review and discussion about the proactive safety steps United has taken to date, our FAA Certification Management Office has allowed us to begin the process of restarting our certification activities, including new aircraft and routes, and we will continue to coordinate closely with the FAA,” according to the memo.
This announcement does not mean that the FAA’s oversight activities have changed or that the agency has approved any new routes or aircraft for United.
“The FAA has not approved expansion of United Airlines’ routes or fleets,” the agency wrote in an emailed statement. “The Certificate Holder Evaluation Program that the FAA is conducting for United is ongoing, and safety will determine the timeline for completing it.”
In addition, the agency is requiring that FAA personnel be present when United conducts final inspections of newly delivered aircraft that are replacing older models.
