EVERETT, Washington — The Federal Aviation Administration has certified Boeing’s 737 MAX 10, the largest version of its best-selling jet, clearing the way for deliveries to airlines, the FAA and Boeing announced on Tuesday.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy handed over the certification documents at a small ceremony in Everett, Boeing said. “After extensive safety reviews — including thousands of hours of test flights — the team at the FAA is ready to approve this critical aircraft for sale,” Duffy said. “This is a major win for American manufacturing.”
“We will continue to hold Boeing to the highest safety standards as the company begins production of the 737 MAX-10,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.
Before approving the plane, the FAA required changes tied to the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act and to National Transportation Safety Board recommendations, including an enhanced angle-of-attack sensor system. Boeing said that system will become standard across the 737 MAX family.
Boeing said the test program logged nearly 1,000 flights and more than 2,000 flight hours. The MAX 10 can seat up to 230 passengers, and more than 30 customers have ordered 1,555 of them — over 30% of the 737 MAX order book.
Approval from Transport Canada and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency should follow in “probably a couple months,” Boeing executive Mike Sinnett told Reuters. Canada’s WestJet is set to receive the first MAX 10 early next year.
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