Boeing has withdrawn its bid for a FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) certification exemption request (concerning an engine inlet anti-ice system) on its 737 MAX 7, reports Reuters, with the manufacturer now intending to incorporate an engineering solution during the pre-certification process.
Boeing had previously wanted to certify the MAX 7 with the same time-limited solution as already-certified variants, which address a known engine anti-ice complication via an in-service workaround: submitting a formal certification request to the FAA in December 2023.
“While we are confident that the proposed time-limited exemption for that system follows established FAA processes to ensure safe operation, we will instead incorporate an engineering solution that will be completed during the certification process,” Reuters quoted Boeing as saying.
Bob Jordan, president and CEO of Southwest, recently stated that the airline does not currently assume to place the MAX 7 in service this year; citing “Boeing’s continued supply chain challenges and the current status of -7 certification”. As of October 2023, Being’s MAX 7 orderbook stood at more than 300 units, with Southwest due to be the launch customer for the type.