The FAA could certify Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 as early as next week following a meeting of the agency’s Type-Certification Board on Friday, according to a Reuters report citing sources familiar with the process. A final FAA management meeting remains before the agency determines whether to approve the aircraft, which is the largest variant in Boeing’s 737 MAX family.
Certification Nears Completion
Boeing completed the MAX 10’s final planned certification flight in July after 976 flights and more than 2,060 flight hours. The testing program covered landing gear, braking systems, engine anti-ice modifications and an enhanced angle-of-attack system. Following the flight tests, Boeing continued completing system safety assessments and other documentation required for FAA review.
“We’re in close coordination with them (FAA), and I think you’re going to see that certification very soon,” Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said during a September investor conference. “We’ve completed all the flight testing. Now we’re just in the documentation phase.”
Recent Software Issue
The certification process was briefly interrupted in late September after the FAA identified a software issue that could affect automated navigation during certain missed-approach procedures. An agency review board subsequently determined that the problem did not present a safety concern because pilots retain full control of the aircraft. The FAA decision allowed certification work to continue while Boeing develops a permanent software update.
The FAA certified the MAX 7, the smallest variant in the 737 MAX family, in August following an extended review. Boeing has already begun producing MAX 10 aircraft and continues to target initial customer deliveries in 2027. Ortberg said in September that the MAX 10 accounts for approximately 30% of the company’s 737 backlog.
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