Boeing 737 MAX Close To European Certification

Not just in the United States, but now in Europe as well, the two remaining Boeing 737 MAX variants awaiting certification are inching closer to their long-awaited approval.

Europe’s regulator, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), has said that it’s a matter of weeks away from signing off on the two final members of the popular 737 MAX family, paving the way eventually for a smooth EIS once the FAA grants its own approval in the States

The European approval comes after years of delays, numerous design changes, scrutiny from regulators such as the EASA, and economic volatility that has prevented progress at the desired pace to meet deadlines.

Europe In The Last Stages Of Approval

Speaking at a safety conference in Virginia, Florian Guillermet, the Executive Director of the EASA, said that his agency continues to work towards validating the remaining MAX models, with the 737-10 as a top priority.

Citing that very good progress had been made on closing out the remaining actions needed to pave the way for a formal greenlight. As a result, the focus is less on the big technical hurdles and rather on working through the documentation and aligning this all with the FAA.

Speaking with reporters, Guillermet said openly that he can comfortably say there are now no hurdles or significant milestones left to check off regarding the certification of the jets, something that has been years in the making.

While the workload is still intense, it has shifted from practical testing to working through the relevant documentation under a tight schedule in the coming weeks to get everything processed, with the end goal of the planes getting the green light.

The approval would end a lengthy process for the EASA, and something it’s excited to do. The sheer scope of resources required for the 737-7 and 737-10 has exceeded what the regulator would’ve imagined when work first commenced, and the regulator is ready to move on.

With the EASA and FAA working so closely together, the pair are in close communication to ensure they are comfortable with the models and ready to give the all-clear for flight. Previous reporting said the 737-7 would be approved by the FAA this summer, with the 737-10 by year’s end.

Boeing’s Long Road Slowly Comes To An End

Boeing’s 737-7 and 737-10 from the MAX family have been caught up in a lengthy certification process for years, with many delays, roadblocks, and more preventing approval until, seemingly, this year.

After the global grounding of the MAX fleet following two fatal accidents, additional precautions were implemented in the certification of the remaining variants, and even those that had been grounded were unable to return to service.

The EASA and FAA both insisted on changes; the former clamping down harder on the new synthetic angle-of-attack sensors and on a revised crew-alerting system to be implemented through a retrofit on existing jets, too. This drive meant that certification of the remaining models came under a much finer microscope.

Boeing’s pursuit of an exemption for other technical issues that carried greater political weight made it impossible for the American planemaker to get these planes certified on a near-accurate timeline. The engine anti-ice system problems were just one of the many that forced Boeing and regulators to revise and redesign.

Despite the setbacks, Boeing has pushed through, with no choice but to work diligently to secure the green light for the remaining MAX models that will be pivotal to so many airlines in the coming decades. Additionally, these airlines have been beyond patient, forced to scrap growth plans or slow them down to mitigate delays and uncertainty.

According to forecasts, the 737 MAX will be fully certified by year’s end, with the high-capacity 737-10 expected to enter service in 2027, based on comments from airlines awaiting the aircraft. Although the plane was delayed for years, customers will be happy to have it in their hands when the time comes.