The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has approved Boeing’s amended type certificate for the 737-10, the largest member of the 737 MAX family, clearing the way for the aircraft to enter commercial service. The certification, issued in Everett, Washington, on 20 October, also allows Boeing to begin deliveries in the coming months, subject to individual aircraft approvals and validation by foreign regulators.
The FAA issued an updated Production Limitation Record alongside the amended type certificate, authorising Boeing to manufacture the aircraft to the approved design. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy presented Boeing with the type certificate and Production Certificate 700 during a ceremony in Everett.
The 737-10 completes the four-aircraft MAX family and is designed to carry approximately 185 to 210 passengers over routes of up to about 3,100 nautical miles. Boeing’s certification campaign included nearly 1,000 test flights, more than 2,000 flight hours, about 1,000 hours of ground testing, extensive safety assessments and tens of thousands of pages of documentation.
It is the first commercial aircraft certified to the full requirements of the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act. FAA-mandated changes included flight-control updates incorporating an enhanced angle-of-attack sensor, which Boeing plans to make standard across the MAX family.
The nearly decade-long programme was extended by post-crash safety scrutiny, revised FAA certification procedures and technical issues involving the 737’s engine anti-ice system. EASA and Transport Canada still need to complete validation, a process expected to take several months. WestJet is expected to receive its first aircraft in early 2027, with United among the other initial operators.