FAA Gives Boeing 737 Max 10 Certification Boost Over Safety Concerns

Boeing's 737 Max 10 certification efforts received a boost after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ruled that a software glitch does not pose a safety risk. The FAA's Corrective Action Review Board determined that pilots retain full control of the aircraft even when the autopilot shifts to a simpler level of automation for pitch control.

The issue can arise during go-arounds, which occur when pilots decide to abandon a landing attempt and climb again. In such cases, the software glitch increases the pilot's workload compared to standard mode. However, the FAA stated that this is not a safety concern because pilots maintain full control of the aircraft.

The FAA's decision removes a major regulatory hurdle for Boeing's 737 Max 10 certification, which was delayed until the agency determined whether the software problem posed a safety risk. The smaller 737 Max 7 was certified in August with the affected software. Orders for the 737 Max 10 currently exceed 1,500.