Boeing Secures Certification for Delayed 737 MAX 7 Aircraft
Boeing has finally secured certification for its 737 MAX 7 aircraft from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after more than eight years of development. The certification comes after Boeing completed 441 flight tests over 686 test hours, which was a significant requirement to meet new federal legislation following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.
The MAX 7 is the smallest version of the single-aisle MAX plane, with a maximum capacity of 172 seats. The certification process was prolonged due to the implementation of new requirements under federal legislation after the fatal crashes. Boeing had originally intended to commence deliveries in 2019 but was delayed due to various issues.
Boeing's President of Commercial Airplanes, Stephanie Pope, said that the certification validates the rigor of their airplane's design and recognizes the determination and resilience of their development team. The company expects to ramp up MAX production in the coming period, with plans to deliver the first airplanes to launch customer Southwest Airlines.