FAA Clears Boeing 737 MAX-7 After Decade-Long Safety Review

The Boeing 737 MAX-7 has finally received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after nearly a decade of review. The FAA said that the approval reflects years of sustained work to resolve complex technical issues and complete a thorough review of the airplane's design and supporting safety analyses.

Boeing will now begin production of the aircraft, which is the smallest and longest-range member of the 737 MAX family. The 737-7 model serves an important market segment by offering 135 to 160 seats in a two-class configuration while providing about 10% more range potential than its siblings.

The FAA required testing, design changes, and additional analysis where necessary before granting approval. This included updates to the flight-control software and the flightcrew alerting system, as well as a redesigned engine anti-ice system.