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Boeing 737 MAX 10 certification

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The Boeing 737 MAX 10 is the largest variant in the MAX family, capable of seating up to 230 passengers.From: FAA Certifies Boeing 737 Max 10 for Commercial Service Following Years of Regulatory Delays

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By 22:51 UTC on October 20, the Federal Aviation Administration officially granted type certification to the Boeing 737 MAX 10. The approval ends years of regulatory delays for the largest variant of the manufacturer's narrowbody jet family.

The certification officially clears Boeing to begin delivering the aircraft for commercial service to major customers, including United Airlines, Delta, and Ryanair.

How the story developed

Regulators subjected the MAX 10 to unprecedented scrutiny following previous MAX family crashes and a manufacturing defect incident in 2024. During the prolonged review process, the aircraft accumulated more than 1,500 firm orders.

In November 2024, Boeing identified an anomaly in the 737 MAX flight management computer. The flight-guidance software issue could cause the vertical navigation system to disengage during aborted landings, specifically a missed approach if the flight path was altered, requiring pilots to use manual pitch control. Boeing initially deemed the anomaly a non-safety issue.

The MAX 10 was designed specifically to compete with the Airbus A321neo in the high-capacity narrowbody market.From: FAA Certifies Boeing 737 Max 10 for Commercial Service Following Years of Regulatory Delays ·

On September 27, the FAA was investigating the software glitch, a review that threatened to delay the imminent certification of the MAX 10. Southwest Airlines and United Airlines requested that new MAX deliveries utilize an older, unaffected version of the software.

On October 3, an FAA review panel determined that the software flaw did not compromise flight safety. Regulators concluded that standard pilot training is sufficient to handle the increased workload without requiring an immediate software redesign. This ruling removed a major regulatory hurdle, allowing Boeing to resume the certification process.

Major global carriers have anchored their domestic growth strategies around the MAX 10.From: FAA Certifies Boeing 737 Max 10 for Commercial Service Following Years of Regulatory Delays ·

What to watch

  • Boeing must navigate strict FAA production caps and supply chain bottlenecks to clear a backlog of roughly 1,000 orders.
  • Deliveries of the Boeing 737 MAX 7 remain pending following the software review.

Charts, maps and images

The software anomaly occurs when a pilot alters the preprogrammed flight path following a missed approach.From: FAA Review Panel Finds Boeing 737 MAX Software Flaw Not a Safety Risk, Clearing Obstacle for MAX 10 Certification ·
Boeing must now navigate strict FAA production caps to clear its massive delivery backlog.From: FAA Certifies Boeing 737 Max 10 for Commercial Service Following Years of Regulatory Delays ·
The FAA concluded that cockpit displays provide clear indications when the automated navigation function disengages.From: FAA Review Panel Finds Boeing 737 MAX Software Flaw Not a Safety Risk, Clearing Obstacle for MAX 10 Certification ·
The software glitch can cause the vertical navigation system to disengage during a missed approach, increasing pilot workload.From: FAA Reviews New 737 MAX Software Glitch, Threatening Imminent MAX 10 Certification ·
Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have requested that new MAX deliveries be equipped with an older, unaffected software version.From: FAA Reviews New 737 MAX Software Glitch, Threatening Imminent MAX 10 Certification ·

Timeline

October 2026

  1. FAA Certifies Boeing 737 Max 10 for Commercial Service Following Years of Regulatory Delays
  2. FAA Review Panel Finds Boeing 737 MAX Software Flaw Not a Safety Risk, Clearing Obstacle for MAX 10 Certification

September 2026

  1. FAA Reviews New 737 MAX Software Glitch, Threatening Imminent MAX 10 Certification