FAA clears smallest Boeing 737 Max to fly after years of delays
Airlines can finally start flying passengers soon after planes are certified, but it can take them months to work them into schedules.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted approval for the Boeing 737 Max 7, the smallest variant in the widely-produced Boeing 737 Max family. This certification comes after an extended period of nearly a decade, marked by continuous efforts to address intricate technical challenges and an exhaustive examination of the aircraft's design and associated safety evaluations.
Major airlines, including Southwest Airlines, had intended to operate the plane even before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, heightened regulatory scrutiny following the tragic crashes of the in-service Max 8 in 2018 and 2019, coupled with other safety and manufacturing issues, and the redesign of an engine anti-icing system, led to delays in the certification process.
Although airlines can commence passenger flights shortly after an aircraft's certification, it typically takes airlines several months to integrate these planes into their operational schedules. The FAA emphasized that the MAX-7 must incorporate significant enhancements, such as updated flight-control software, a flightcrew alerting system, and a redesigned engine anti-ice system, which averts engine overheating.
Boeing is currently waiting for the FAA's certification of another delayed model, the 737 Max 10, the largest aircraft in the family, and the company's flagship aircraft, the 777X. Currently, Boeing possesses approximately 40 737 Max 7s and 737 Max 10s in stock, and the FAA's approval could provide the manufacturer with crucial revenue.
Sheila Kahyaoglu, a Jefferies analyst, commented on Sunday that Boeing is expected to gain substantial funds from the certification. Boeing and other aircraft manufacturers typically receive the majority of an aircraft's price when they deliver it to customers. Boeing stock experienced a rise of over 5% in afternoon trading on Monday.
The manufacturer, a leading U.S. exporter, is striving to accelerate the production of its 737 Maxes and 787 Dreamliners, which are vital for Boeing's recovery following years of crisis. The company has been making progress in ramping up production, notably by opening a new production line in Everett, Washington, for its 737 Max airplanes in July.
Boeing has been working diligently to regain the trust of the FAA, and recent strides include the FAA's ability to issue airworthiness certificates for its bestselling 737 Max aircraft and 787 Dreamliners again, after suspending this process following the Max 8 crashes that claimed 346 lives. Boeing has not yet responded to the FAA's approval on Monday.
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