Boeing has completed certification flight testing for the 737 MAX 7 and 737 MAX 10, clearing the largest technical hurdle on the path to Federal Aviation Administration approval, though certification itself is not yet final.
The MAX 10 program was the more extensive of the two, logging 976 certification flights totaling more than 2,060 hours in the air, along with roughly 1,040 hours of ground testing using three test aircraft.
Tests covered engine anti-icing systems, an upgraded angle-of-attack system, wet-runway braking, landing gear performance, and a maximum-speed rejected takeoff. The final phase examined cabin systems, including emergency signal audibility and passenger notification systems.
The last certification flight of the MAX 10 was conducted by test pilot Dan Mangel, the same pilot who first flew that aircraft four years ago.
Boeing said the MAX 7 program is slightly further along in documentation, with about 95 percent of certification materials complete. Boeing expects FAA certificates for both variants before the end of 2026, with first deliveries to airlines planned for 2027.
Southwest Airlines is among those awaiting the MAX 7, while United Airlines and Delta Air Lines are expecting deliveries of the longer MAX 10. Boeing added that upgrades confirmed during testing, including the revised anti-icing and angle-of-attack systems, will also be applied to existing 737 MAX aircraft already in service.
