Boeing said it was making progress with #Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft regulatory approval directives but declined to offer a clear schedule for when it expects to gain approval, according to a Reuters report.
The news comes two months after the US aviation regulator said it was concerned it will be difficult for the American manufacturer to meet the regulatory directives by the end of 2022, and asked Boeing to provide a “mature certification schedule”.
The Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft, the largest variant of 737 MAX family, is currently under development.
In order to ’start commercial operations with the 737 MAX 10, Boeing must first win approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by the end of 2022. If the FAA does not certify the 737 MAX 10 before the end of 2022, only Congress can extend the deadline.
The new directives were introduced by Congress in 2020 as part of regulatory reforms at the FAA after fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019.
The Boeing 737 MAX 10 was launched in 2017. The aircraft made its first flight in June 2021, initiating its flight test and certification program.
The Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft has a range of 3,300 nautical miles (6,110 kilometers) and a capability to seat between 188 and 230 passengers depending on aircraft configuration. If certified, the Boeing 737 MAX 10 is set to be a competitor to the Airbus A321neo aircraft, which has similar parameters. In comparison, the Airbus A321neo has a range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 kilometers) and can seat up to 244 passengers.
