The Boeing 737 MAX 10 could finally receive certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Originally scheduled to begin flying in 2020, the aircraft has faced significant delays, including technical issues and regulatory reviews. Now, it has been reported by Reuters that it could receive certification as soon as this week. The FAA type certification board met on Oct. 16 to review the MAX 10 and was reportedly successful.
Many airlines are awaiting orders
The MAX 10 completed its last test flight in July 2026, after 976 flights and more than 2,060 flight hours. The flights tested the new main landing gear, brakes on wet runways, the enhanced angle-of-attack system, as well as smoke detectors and cabin speaker audibility.
There are currently 1,500 orders for it, about 30% of Boeing’s outstanding 737 backlog, from airlines including Ryanair, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary stated he was optimistic it would receive approval by the end of the month.
Why was it delayed?
After the 2018 (Lion Air) and 2019 (Ethiopian Airlines) crashes involving the Boeing 737 MAX 8, in which all onboard both planes were killed, the MAX 10’s certification was delayed. Both crashes involved flight control systems and forced global groundings of the MAX 8. In September, it was revealed that a software glitch was affecting the vertical navigation system. This could interfere with a go-around, when an aircraft misses its first approach and must try again. The FAA concluded that it was not safety critical as pilots retain full control of the aircraft, while Boeing work on a permanent software update.
Boeing has faced intense scrutiny in recent years after whistle blower allegations and quality failures. In January 2024, the door on an Alaskan Airlines flight, a 737 MAX 9, was blown out due to missing bolts and electrical faults and seat safety inspections brought the airline under fire.
What do you make of the MAX 10? Let us know in the comments.
