FAA to Restore Boeing's Self-Certification Authority for 737 MAX and 787

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Friday it will restore Boeing's authority to issue airworthiness certificates for all new 737 MAX and 787 aircraft, a key milestone for the manufacturer as it works to ramp up production. The decision, first reported by Reuters, will take effect next week.

A Vote of Confidence

The FAA stated the move follows "months of thorough data and safety review demonstrating consistent production quality." The agency said the decision reflects its "confidence in Boeing’s ability to issue airworthiness certificates under FAA oversight."

Despite restoring Boeing's authority, the regulator emphasized it will continue its own direct inspections, audits, and monitoring of the company's production system. In a statement, Boeing confirmed it will continue "to work under the oversight of the FAA in building safe, high-quality commercial airplanes."

Path to Restoration

The FAA had revoked Boeing's self-certification privileges for the 737 MAX in 2019 following two fatal crashes. The authority for the 787 Dreamliner was similarly revoked in 2022 amid production quality control problems.

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As an interim step, the FAA in September began allowing Boeing to issue airworthiness certificates for the two jet families on alternating weeks. The agency noted that during this eight-month period, it observed "comparable production quality findings" regardless of whether the certificate was issued by Boeing or the FAA itself.

Impact on Production and Future Models

This regulatory green light is crucial for Boeing's efforts to increase its delivery pace. The decision comes after the FAA raised Boeing’s monthly production cap for the 737 MAX to 42 aircraft, lifting a 38-plane limit imposed after a mid-air panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight in January 2024. In May, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency supported Boeing's plan to increase production to 47 planes a month.

Bedford also told Reuters he expects the 737 MAX 7 to be certified this summer, with the larger MAX 10 model receiving approval before the end of the year. The planemaker still faces certification delays for its widebody 777X jet.