Ask the Captain: Can pilots refuse to fly the Boeing 737 Max after it's recertified?

Answer: If they are assigned to the MAX fleet, then they are expected to fly it. However, it is possible for them to change the fleet to which they are assigned. I do not know of any pilots that would not fly the MAX once it is recertified, tested and returned to service.

A: It is impossible to know at this point. Each operator will handle the return to service differently. Some will make a media event out of showing the plane's safety and reliability, while others will attempt to make it “business as usual.”

John Cox is a retired airline captain with US Airways and runs his own aviation safety consulting company, Safety Operating Systems.