Story
FAA to Restore Full Airworthiness Certification Authority to Boeing for 737 MAX and 787
Summary
The U.S. aviation regulator will allow Boeing to resume self-certifying all 737 MAX and 787 aircraft after an eight-month data review confirmed consistent production quality.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it will permit Boeing to resume issuing its own airworthiness certificates for all 737 MAX and 787 aircraft, a key milestone signaling increased regulatory confidence in the planemaker's production quality. The decision follows an extensive eight-month period of direct agency oversight and data review.
Decision Follows Extensive Data Review
The policy change, effective Monday, July 20, 2026, fully restores Boeing's authority to self-certify the airworthiness of its two flagship aircraft families. The FAA stated that the move was based on a data review showing consistent and acceptable production quality.
"Safety drives everything we do, and this step forward is only possible because we are confident it can be done safely," FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement. The restoration of this authority is a significant operational step for Boeing, potentially streamlining its delivery process for new aircraft.
Path to Resumed Certification
This development concludes a phased approach that began in September 2025, when the FAA first allowed Boeing to resume issuing certificates for some of its 737 MAX and 787 planes. Over the past eight months, the FAA and Boeing alternated issuing the certificates on a weekly basis.
AdAccording to the agency, this review period demonstrated "comparable production quality" regardless of which entity issued the certification. This data provided the necessary evidence for the FAA to safely return full responsibility to the manufacturer.
Continued Federal Oversight
Despite restoring Boeing's certification authority, the FAA emphasized that it will maintain a strong supervisory presence. Agency inspectors will now shift their focus to identifying and addressing potential risks earlier in the manufacturing process.
The FAA's ongoing oversight will include:
- Rigorous inspections, audits, and monitoring of Boeing’s production system.
- Scrutiny of assembly activities and production quality trends.
- Continued assessment of the company’s Safety Management System and overall safety culture.
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