Boeing's 737 MAX 7 Gets FAA Approval, but Inspections Follow

Boeing secured FAA certification for the 737 MAX 7 after nine years of development. However, just two days later, regulators mandated inspections on 1,429 MAX jets due to concerns about a structural part linked to factory flaws.

The directive targets a fuselage reinforcement called the bear strap, which was introduced during manufacturing and could potentially lead to cracks. Although no cracks have been found yet, the FAA took action proactively because of shared design with older NG models.

The inspection requirement has implications for airlines like Southwest, RyanAir, and Alaska, which now face added maintenance costs and delays. The certification process involved software, alerting, and engine system upgrades, but it appears that these measures did not address the issue at hand.