Boeing: with the green light for the 737 Max 10, a long journey towards certification comes to an end
The FAA has certified the aircraft after years of waiting: the competition with the Airbus A321 is now on. So far, 1,500 orders have been received for the new model
Key points
Boeing has received the go-ahead from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the 737 Max 10, the largest aircraft in its family of single-aisle aircraft. The certification brings to an end a long and complex process, marked by two fatal accidents involving the Max family and a series of quality and safety issues at the American manufacturer.
The new model represents one of Boeing’s major industrial ventures. With over 1,500 orders, the Max 10 ranks among the most sought-after variants, chosen by airlines such as United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, and in Europe by Ryanair. The aircraft is designed to compete directly with Airbus’s A321neo, the European benchmark in the high-capacity narrow-body aircraft segment.
“The FAA’s decision follows a thorough assessment of the project and the aircraft’s safety requirements,” said Bryan Bedford, Director of the FAA, adding that the agency would continue to hold Boeing to the highest safety standards.
The issue of security and the timeline of the process
The path to authorisation was not without its obstacles. The timetable had also been called into question by a problem with the on-board software identified in the aircraft’s navigation system. However, as the checks revealed, a team of FAA experts concluded that the fault did not pose a safety risk.
The approval of the Max 10 follows that granted in August to the 737 Max 7, the smallest version in the family. The key issue therefore remains Boeing’s ability to get its commercial aircraft programme back on track, following years in which technical difficulties and regulatory scrutiny have impacted the development of new models and market confidence.
