The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given the green light for certification flight testing of Boeing‘s 737 MAX 10, the largest variant of its popular jet designed to compete for dominance in the narrow-body market. The FAA's type inspection authorisation signifies the commencement of the certification process, following a thorough examination of technical data. This milestone enables FAA pilots to engage in flight testing necessary for certifying the aircraft for regular operations, as outlined in a letter to employees by three Boeing executives. The 737 MAX 10 is Boeing's response to the European rival Airbus's A321neo, which has held a strong position at the pinnacle of the single-aisle market, challenging Boeing's MAX 9.
According to REUTERS, Boeing shares experienced a 1.1% rise in midday trade, concurrent with the FAA's confirmation of the granted type inspection authorisation for the 737 MAX 10. Boeing executives reconfirmed in October that the schedule for the MAX 10, involving certification and initial deliveries in 2024, remains on track. The FAA emphasised that safety considerations will determine the certification timeline for the MAX 10, as stated in their announcement validating the type inspection authorisation.
With over 400 flights and nearly 1,000 flight hours logged in Boeing's test program, the MAX 10 is steadily progressing towards certification. Meanwhile, the smaller MAX 7 variant of the 737 MAX family is still awaiting FAA certification, anticipated by the end of 2023. Boeing's initial delivery timeline for the MAX 7 was revised from this year to 2024, a decision disclosed by the company in July.
