The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it will review the advanced flight crew alerting system proposed by Boeing for the 737 MAX 10 model. The review covers methods related to the synthetic enhanced angle-of-attack system and the deactivation of stall and overspeed warnings.
In a statement released by the FAA on Friday, it was noted that the system’s compliance with current and future safety standards will be assessed in detail. The review is considered a critical stage in Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 certification process.
Congressional Decision Shaped the Certification Process
In December 2022, the US Congress agreed to delay the effective date of a new safety standard requiring modern cockpit alerting systems for the 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 models. However, this delay was made conditional on the integration of additional safety improvements into the aircraft within three years following the MAX 10’s certification.
These regulations were adopted by Congress as part of aircraft certification reforms implemented after two fatal 737 MAX crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that claimed a total of 346 lives. Those accidents led to the global grounding of the 737 MAX fleet for approximately 20 months.
FAA: All MAX Models Will Be Closely Monitored
The FAA also announced that it will review and approve design changes incorporating the necessary safety improvements across all other models in the Boeing 737 MAX family. The agency emphasised that it will closely monitor Boeing to ensure the company provides airlines with the required services and technical information in a timely manner.
Boeing, for its part, refrained from making an official statement on the matter at this stage.
MAX 7 and MAX 10 Certification Has Been Delayed for Years
Boeing, which has already brought the 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 models to market, has long been unable to complete FAA certification for the shorter-bodied MAX 7 and the longer-bodied MAX 10, the new variants of the MAX family.
On Thursday, Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan told Reuters that they expect the MAX 7 to be certified by August 2026, with the aircraft anticipated to enter commercial service in the first quarter of 2027.
Production and Quality Issues Remain on the Agenda
Boeing has experienced delays in the certification process for the MAX 7 and MAX 10, particularly due to issues related to the engine anti-icing system. The company has also faced similar challenges in the certification of its wide-body 777X model.
In October, the FAA authorised Boeing to increase 737 MAX production to 42 aircraft per month, lifting the 38-aircraft monthly production cap that had been in place since January 2024. This cap was introduced following a 2024 in-flight incident involving an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 aircraft, during which a large hole formed in the fuselage.
In that incident, a serious structural failure occurred at an altitude of approximately 4,900 metres (16,000 feet) due to the absence of four key bolts in a door plug, once again bringing Boeing’s shortcomings in production safety and quality processes into focus.
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