SEATTLE- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given Boeing the green light to commence certification flight testing for its 737 MAX 10, the largest variant of its best-selling aircraft designed to secure a dominant position in the narrowbody market.
In a letter addressed to employees, three Boeing executives—Mike Fleming, Senior Vice President for Development Programs; Ed Clark, 737 Program Head; and Wayne Tygert, Testing Lead—announced that the FAA had granted type inspection authorization for the 737 MAX 10 earlier in the week.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 Clear for Test Flights
This milestone enables FAA pilots to participate in the necessary flight testing required to certify the aircraft for regular operations.
Describing it as a “significant milestone,” the executives expressed their commitment to obtaining certification for the 737-10, the largest member of the 737 MAX family, to facilitate its entry into passenger service worldwide.
Boeing’s response to the European rival Airbus’s A321neo, the 737 MAX 10, aims to compete in the lucrative top segment of the single-aisle market, historically dominated by Airbus’s A321neo over Boeing’s MAX 9.
As of October, Boeing executives confirmed that the schedule for the MAX 10 remains on track. The plan includes certification and the initial aircraft delivery in 2024.
400+ Flights Under Test Program
During Boeing’s test program, the MAX 10 has undergone over 400 flights, accumulating nearly 1,000 flight hours.
Meanwhile, the FAA certification for Boeing’s MAX 7, the smallest variant in the 737 MAX family, is still pending, with expectations set for the end of 2023.
However, the first delivery has been delayed from this year to 2024, as announced by the company in July.
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