US FAA delays Boeing 737 MAX 10 certification over software issue — AeroTime
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has delayed certification of the Boeing 737 MAX 10, the largest variant of the 737 MAX family. The regulator is assessing a software issue affecting some MAX aircraft, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said on September 28.
According to Bedford, the FAA will not approve the MAX 10 until it is certain that the problem does not exist. He did not specify how long the certification process could be delayed. As AeroTime reports, the FAA had previously announced plans to convene a corrective action review board to examine the situation.
Problem during landing
Boeing disclosed the issue on September 26. According to the company, in a certain landing scenario, pilots may lose access to the automated flight control system. At the same time, Bedford said that crews retain control of the aircraft.
The software supplier is GE Aerospace. The FAA chief noted that a fix could be prepared relatively quickly but could not say whether this would take days, weeks, or months. Boeing told Reuters that it would continue to act in accordance with FAA guidance during the certification process.
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The delay came less than two weeks after Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg said certification of the MAX 10 was expected “very soon.” On September 16, he said flight testing had been completed and Boeing was working with the FAA on final documentation.
Airlines' reaction
Canadian carrier WestJet said its MAX fleet includes aircraft with the software under review, but it has recorded no incidents related to it in service. The airline also said it has procedures and crew training for such situations.
United Airlines and Alaska Airlines said their aircraft are not currently using the software version under review. At that time, United had not accepted deliveries of aircraft with this version. Alaska expected MAX 10 certification by the end of September 2026 and planned to receive its first aircraft in spring 2027.
The smaller Boeing 737 MAX 7 received FAA certification on August 3, 2026. It was preceded by changes including an upgrade to the engine anti-ice system, an update to flight control software, and improvements to flight crew alerts.
