FAA Signals Imminent Certification for Boeing 737 MAX 7 and 10 Variants

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expects to certify Boeing's 737 MAX 7 and 737 MAX 10 aircraft soon, a senior agency official said on Monday. The comments, made at the Farnborough Air Show, signal that a key regulatory hurdle for the best-selling jet's new variants is close to being cleared.

Certification Timeline

Speaking to Reuters, Deputy FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau described the approval process as being "closer than ever before." He provided a clear timeline for the two models, which have been subject to an intensive review by the agency.

"I think the -7 is literally around the corner, and -10 right behind it," Rocheleau stated in an interview. This certification is the final step required before Boeing can commence deliveries of the aircraft to its airline customers.

Implications for Boeing

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The successful certification of the MAX 7 (the smallest model) and the MAX 10 (the largest model) is a significant milestone for Boeing. It allows the company to fulfill its order book for these variants and compete more effectively in the narrow-body aircraft market. The approvals would mark a crucial step forward for the 737 MAX program following years of heightened regulatory scrutiny.

Outlook for the 777X

The FAA official also commented on the certification timeline for Boeing's wide-body 777X program. Rocheleau indicated that its approval would follow that of the two MAX planes. "Whether it’s this year or earlier next year... we’re kind of letting Boeing drive that when they bring us the right information and we work through it together," he said, placing the onus on the manufacturer to provide the necessary data for the agency's review.