Boeing's 737 MAX Family Clears Major Hurdle on Path to Certification

The Boeing 737 MAX family has taken a significant step towards certification with the completion of flight testing for the MAX 7 and MAX 10 models. The two aircraft, the smallest and largest members of the 737 MAX family, have been in development for years and have finally cleared the single biggest technical hurdle standing between them and airline customers.

The MAX 10 campaign involved a total of 976 flights, with over 2,060 hours of flight time and approximately 1,040 ground-test hours across three test aircraft. The MAX 7 is slightly ahead in its certification process, with around 95% of document submissions completed.

The testing program validated several key items, including the Engine Anti-Ice (EAI) fix, enhanced Angle of Attack (eAoA), and wet-runway braking. Boeing's test pilot, Dan Mangel, who also flew the MAX 10's first flight four years ago, was at the controls for the final certification sortie.

With flight testing complete, the program will now focus on closing out its development assurance reviews and system safety assessments before submitting the final data to the FAA. Boeing is targeting type certification in 2026 and first customer deliveries in 2027.