FAA Delays MAX 10 Certification Over Software Glitch
Boeing's largest MAX variant, the MAX 10, will face further delays due to a software glitch that switches off automated flight guidance when pilots alter their preprogrammed flight path.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Monday that it would delay certification of the MAX 10 until it is satisfied that there is no safety issue. The FAA's administrator, Bryan Bedford, compared the software issue to a bug on an iPhone or a glitch in Microsoft software update.
Boeing had expected the MAX 10 certification to follow soon after the MAX 7, which was certified by the FAA last month. However, the new issue affects some MAX aircraft operating with a certain software version, including the MAX 7 and 10.
The glitch causes pilots to need to perform extra steps for landing on the next approach when they veer from their preprogrammed flight path. The FAA is studying the workload component of this issue to determine if it poses a safety concern in certain circumstances.