FAA Nears Certification of Boeing 737 MAX 10 Amid Ongoing Software Glitch Concerns

The FAA’s Type-Certification Board met in mid-October and indicated the agency could issue the type certificate for the 737 MAX 10 within a week. The board found that a flight-management-computer (FMC) software glitch that can disengage vertical navigation (VNAV) during a go-around does not constitute a safety risk. The FAA issued a non-mandatory Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) and allowed certification to proceed while Boeing works on a permanent fix.

Boeing 737 MAX 10 Could Be Certified Next Week, But Airlines May Refuse Jets Over Software Glitch

The 737 MAX family has been under scrutiny since the 2018-2019 crashes linked to MCAS, which led to a grounding that ended in December 2021. Additional issues later emerged, including cabin-seat flaws, fuselage cracks and a 2023 anti-ice system problem that delayed the MAX 7 and MAX 10 programs. Boeing’s current challenge involves FMC software versions U14 and U14.1, introduced after the original U13 version that debuted in 2017.

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• 2020 – Original target entry-into-service for the MAX 10.

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• 2018-2019 – Two fatal crashes; MCAS identified as cause.

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• December 2021 – Grounding lifted after redesign.

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• 2023 – Anti-ice system problem postpones certification.

FAA Could Certify Boeing 737 MAX 10 Next Week

• Late 2024 – WestJet reports a go-around glitch after a test flight; Boeing does not inform other operators for nearly two years.

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• Early October 2024 – FAA determines the glitch does not pose a safety concern.

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• Mid-October 2024 – Final Type-Certification Board meeting; certification expected within a week.

FAA Could Certify Boeing 737 MAX 10 Next Week

• Flight-test campaign: 976 flights, >2,060 flight hours.

American Airlines Boeing 737 Makes Emergency Landing at Chicago O’Hare After Suspected Fire in the Cabin

• Boeing has built a handful of MAX 10s; none can be delivered until certification.

Boeing 737 MAX 10 certification imminent after final FAA review

• Backlog: ~1,555 unfilled orders out of 1,702 gross orders, roughly 30 % of Boeing’s 737 backlog.

Boeing 737 MAX 10 certification imminent after final FAA review

• Major customers: United Airlines (167 firm orders), Ryanair (150 firm orders plus 150 options), Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines.

Boeing 737 MAX 10 Could Be Certified Next Week, But Airlines May Refuse Jets Over Software Glitch

• The FAA emphasized that “safety dictates the certification timeline.”

FAA Could Certify Boeing 737 MAX 10 Next Week

• Boeing spokesperson Bobbie Egan said pilots can follow a prescribed procedure between the missed approach and the next landing to ensure the FMC behaves as expected.

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• United Airlines told industry sources it will not accept deliveries equipped with U14 or U14.1, a stance echoed by Alaska, American and Southwest.

Boeing 737 MAX 10 Could Be Certified Next Week, But Airlines May Refuse Jets Over Software Glitch

Industry voices argue the FAA’s risk assessment underestimates the operational impact of the glitch.

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The MAX 10 is a key cash-flow driver for Boeing’s recovery and a direct competitor to Airbus’s A321neo. Airline refusals could erode market share and prolong the backlog that has strained production and suppliers.

FAA set to approve Boeing 737 MAX 10

• Safety assessment: The FAA says the issue is not a safety risk, while pilots and unions cite increased workload and potential “task saturation” during go-around scenarios.

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• Scope of impact: Boeing has not disclosed how many aircraft are equipped with the glitch-prone software.

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