FAA Clears Boeing's Smallest 737 Max After Decade-Long Development

Boeing's smallest 737 Max, the 737 Max 7, has finally received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after nearly a decade of development. The plane was first unveiled almost 10 years ago and has undergone significant scrutiny since two crashes of its larger counterpart, the 737 Max 8, in 2018 and 2019 resulted in hundreds of fatalities.

To gain approval, Boeing had to implement several safety changes, including updated flight-control software, revised crew alerting systems, and a redesigned engine anti-ice system. The FAA tightened their requirements following the crashes, which led to significant delays in the plane's certification process.

The 737 Max 7 is expected to be used for short and medium-haul routes, with Southwest Airlines among those looking forward to putting the planes into service. Boeing has around 40 of these planes already built but undelivered, and the certification provides a much-needed financial boost as the company continues to work on rebuilding trust and increasing production.