Boeing 737 MAX 10 Cleared To Begin Flight Testing

Boeing’s 737-10, part of the MAX series, has been officially cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration to begin certification flight testing.

The approval from the governing regulator is a substantial moment for the largest MAX series member still awaiting certification.

New Aircraft Face More Inspections

New aircraft and variants such as the 737-10 have come under an increased microscope during their certification programs in recent years.

This increased scrutiny largely stems from the 737 MAX incidents in 2018 and 2019.

These incidents highlighted flaws in the aircraft certification process and the corner-cutting that jeopardised the plane’s safety.

As a result, checks, certification programs, and more are handled with extra caution, potentially causing delays. However, this helps ensure nothing like what happened with the 737-8 happens again.

Boeing has experienced substantial delays in certifying the 737-10 and 737-7. These two remaining MAX variants are currently undelivered and awaiting approval.

Meanwhile, Boeing has also repeatedly pushed back its new long-haul 777X’s EIS. Current estimates see a 2025 EIS five years later than initially expected.

Boeing 737-10 Customers

Cirium data indicates that 849 737-10s remain on order with 77 on option. These orders are spread across 16 airlines, bringing the total to 926 jets.

The leading analytical data publication highlights United Airlines as the largest customer for the 737-10, with 235 units on order.

Ryanair follows with 150 on order, alongside up to 130 from Delta—split between 100 on order and 30 additional options.

While yet to be approved, the 737-10 has undoubtedly made a mark on the industry with customers worldwide.

When Will Certification Arrive?

While the critical step of approving flight testing for the 737-10 has been approved, certification is still some time away.

Boeing would ideally want certification approved by the end of 2024. However, this could very easily slip. Even if certification is approved toward the end of 2024, airlines would likely not fly the jet before 2025 anyway.