Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Human Factors; Procedure; Weather; Company Policy; Airport; Aircraft
The Captain and I were scheduled to depart ZZZZ in a 737 MAX. The flight was full and we knew we had max takeoff weight issues for runway limit. The outside temperature was 16 degrees C and winds were variable for Runway XXR. On our first pushback; we did not have our load closeout and we pushed from gate and began to taxi; even while seeing potential overweight issues. After calling ZZZZ Operations; we received our load closeout and ran the numbers. The temperature increased to 18 degrees C and that significantly degraded engine performance at our weight and required configuration. We noticed that we would be overweight by about 1;100 pounds. We discontinued taxi; messaged Dispatch via ACARS and coordinated a return to gate for overall reevaluation. Dispatch and the flight planning team determined we needed to offload passengers and associated bags and that would fix the problem.Now; enough time elapsed that we needed more fuel and needed a new ATC flight plan clearance. ZZZZ Clearance informed us that we had no clearance in the system and we needed to contact Dispatch. We did that via ACARS as well as through ZZZZ Operations. This disconnect with the clearance occurred more than 10 times over a 4 hour period before they finally got a clearance through ZZZZ ATC. We were told that the issue was that ZZZZ ATC did not like something in the clearance request that ZZZ1 Dispatch submitted. However; ZZZZ ATC would not talk to ZZZ1 Dispatch; nor tell them what was wrong with their submission. ZZZZ ATC would only work through ZZZZ Operations; who does not submit flight plan clearance requests and had no idea what is required. We; the aircrew; decided to not push back until we had our clearance and a valid load closeout. It began to rain during our delay and I requested approximately XX different updates based on new weights; temperatures and runway conditions. Also during this 4 hour delay; Dispatch and the flight planning team repeatedly pulled off many passengers and bags. This required continuous updates for accuracy. The passengers were told to deplane after X hours and were given a time to be back at the gate for departure. We got everyone back on board; received our flight plan clearance; a valid load closeout and departed via ZZZZ Runway XXR. The flight was uneventful and we landed safely in ZZZ2.The main issue on this flight was planning and execution by the company. The company tried to leverage the 737 MAX in an environment where it does not need to be flying with full loads and the flight planning team tried to execute an inherently flawed plan. In ZZZZ; rain is constant; but the temperatures and winds that day were very moderate compared to what routinely occurs in the summer months. Even at 18 degrees C; the 737 MAX is extremely weight limited at this airport's altitude. The 737 MAX should not be flying in ZZZZ during even moderate temperature months with full passenger and cargo loads. The ATC flight plan clearance issue is a procedural or communication issue between the company and ZZZZ ATC. ZZZZ Operations should be able to intercede in these situations and fix any issues that come up; but training and awareness is required. Ultimately; this was a non-issue due to the more time-consuming weight issues associated with this flight. Our flight planning departments must continue to gather data related to the 737 MAX during normal operations at all airports throughout the year. This data will lead to an executable annual route schedule for the 737 MAX and ensure smooth operational tempo while maintaining appropriate safety margins.
B737 MAX First Officer reported numerous performance and weight issues caused a delay and required off-loading passengers and baggage multiple times and multiple clearance requests before departing.