FAA Certifies Boeing's 737 MAX 7 After Decade-Long Review

Boeing's 737 MAX 7 has finally received certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after over eight years of delays. The smallest version of Boeing's single-aisle MAX plane was originally set to begin deliveries in 2019, but that timeline was pushed back following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.

The FAA approval follows a decade-long review process, which included 441 flight tests over 686 test flight hours. To win certification, Boeing had to address complex technical issues, including the poor design of an anti-stall system known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), which was identified as a contributing factor to the fatal crashes.

Boeing's president of Commercial Airplanes, Stephanie Pope, said that the certification validates the rigor of the airplane's design and recognizes the determination and resilience of the 737 MAX development team. The company expects to ramp up MAX production in the coming period and is readying the first airplanes for delivery to launch customer Southwest Airlines.