The Boeing 737 MAX 10, the largest variant of the 737 MAX family, has moved to the next stage of its certification process with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA has approved the transition to the second phase of flight testing. This development is seen as a significant step for a program that has faced years of delays.
Certification of the MAX 10 is critical for Boeing’s narrowbody aircraft strategy and its competition with the Airbus A321neo. The biggest remaining hurdle in the process is ongoing technical work related to the engine inlet anti-icing system. The FAA continues to apply strict oversight across the MAX program due to past safety issues.
With more than 1,200 orders secured, full-scale production of the 737 MAX 10 cannot begin until certification is completed. Leeham Company managing director Scott Hamilton described the development as progress, while emphasizing that the aircraft can only be considered truly complete once certification is fully achieved.
