Boeing is in the final stages of certifying a redesigned engine anti-ice system for the 737 MAX, removing the main obstacle that has delayed the entry into service of the 737 MAX 7 and 737 MAX 10 for several years, according to Reuters.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expects to certify the 737 MAX 7 this summer. Southwest Airlines, the launch customer for the variant, is expected to become the first operator once deliveries begin.
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The anti-ice system redesign addresses a problem identified in 2021 that could cause overheating inside the engine inlet and, in rare cases, damage engine components. Boeing said testing of the new system also resulted in lower engine noise and reduced fan flutter.
The larger 737 MAX 10 is also approaching certification. Boeing says the program has completed about 98% of its certification flight testing, with only two flights remaining. The company continues to target FAA approval before the end of the year.
Certification of both variants has slipped by several years following stricter regulatory oversight introduced after the two fatal 737 MAX 8 accidents in 2018 and 2019. The process also includes an updated flight crew alerting system required by U.S. lawmakers after the crashes.
Boeing has already assembled about 30 737 MAX 7s and nine 737 MAX 10s that cannot be delivered until both aircraft receive FAA certification, according to the agency. The MAX 10 accounts for more than 28% of the company's remaining 737 MAX backlog and is viewed as Boeing's main competitor to the Airbus A321neo.
