The US aviation regulator has cleared Boeing to begin certification flight testing of its long-delayed 737 MAX 10, confirming that it has granted type inspection authorisation for the type.
In a letter to employees, three Boeing executives described the Federal Aviation Authority's permission as a “significant milestone as we work to get the 737-10, the largest airplane in the 737 MAX family, certified to enter passenger service with operators around the world.”
The MAX 10 – the largest in Boeing’s 737 MAX family - has so far logged more than 400 flights and almost 1,000 flight hours during Boeing’s test programme. With a range of around 250 nautical miles and capacity for up to 204 passengers, Boeing has an estimated 1,000 orders for the type, which is expected to receive certification in 2024.