The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has granted Boeing [NYSE: BA] an amended type certificate for the new 737-7 airplane, clearing it for commercial service.
“This important certification validates the rigor of our airplane’s design and recognizes the determination and resilience of our 737 MAX development team,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
“Our team of dedicated engineers and test experts worked through challenges, an extended pandemic, and the transition to new certification processes,” Pope added. “Through it all, our team stayed focused on completing all requirements and delivering a safe and more capable airplane to our customers.”
The smallest and longest-range member of the 737 MAX family, the 737-7 model serves an important market segment by offering 135 to 160 seats (in a two-class configuration) while providing about 10% more range potential than its siblings. Like other 737 MAX jets, the 737-7 reduces fuel use and CO2 emissions by 20% and noise footprint by 50% compared to the airplanes it typically replaces.
The regulatory approval caps a multi-year certification effort in which Boeing demonstrated through comprehensive testing and analysis that the airplane meets all commercial aviation regulations. The test program, which began in 2018, included:
- More than 1,000 hours of flight and ground testing
- Extensive system safety analysis and human factors reviews
- An updated engine anti-ice system to address a potential condition that was discovered during flight testing
Our Boeing team held regular and detailed discussions with the FAA to ensure Boeing understood the requirements and provided transparency of our progress,” said Mike Sinnett, senior vice president of Product Strategy, Product Development and Development Programs. “With this certification program, Boeing has developed a clearer understanding of the latest regulatory requirements, which is expected to accelerate future airplane development with a renewed emphasis on human factors, safety and quality.”
Boeing and Southwest Airlines, the 737-7 launch customer, are preparing for delivery of the first airplane. A team is readying the first airplanes, including implementing updates to the airplane’s final configuration.
The FAA also updated Boeing Production Certificate No. 700 (PC 700) to include the 737-7.
