FAA chief set to conduct 737 MAX evaluation flight next week

(Reuters) – Federal Aviation Administration Chief Steve Dickson is set to conduct an evaluation flight at the controls of a Boeing 737 MAX next week, a milestone as the U.S. planemaker works to win approval to resume flights, officials said.

The Boeing 737 MAX has been grounded since March 2019 after two fatal crashes killed 346 people. Dickson, who was previously a commercial airline pilot, plans to take required training before the flight and will then share his observations with FAA technical staff.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Diane Craft)