Boeing's 737 MAX 10 completed its final planned certification flight, confirming the audibility of lavatory smoke detectors and cabin speakers and validating other key systems. The test campaign logged 976 flights, more than 2,060 flight hours and about 1,040 hours of ground testing. Certification checks covered landing gear, wet-runway braking and maximum-energy stops, the engine anti-ice solution, and an enhanced angle-of-attack system. Boeing is aiming for FAA certification in 2026, with commercial deliveries beginning in 2027 after earlier delays tied to the 2019 MAX grounding and anti-ice issues.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 Completes Final Planned Certification Flight, Targets 2026 FAA Approval
Boeing's 737 MAX 10 Completes Final Test Flight
Boeing's long-delayed 737 MAX 10—anticipated to be the largest variant in the MAX family—has completed its final planned certification flight test, the company announced this week.
The concluding flight verified the audibility of the aircraft's lavatory smoke detector and the cabin speaker system, ensuring cabin crews can hear and respond to onboard alerts. The airplane departed from and returned to Boeing Field in Washington.
Test Campaign Results
The MAX 10 test program has logged 976 flights, accumulating more than 2,060 flight hours and roughly 1,040 hours of ground testing. Boeing said the multi-year campaign validated the full range of certification requirements, including checks of the main landing gear, brake performance on wet runways and maximum-energy stops, the 737 engine anti-ice solution, and the enhanced angle-of-attack (AoA) system.
Next Steps Toward Certification
With the final flight complete, the 737 MAX 10 development team will concentrate on closing remaining development-assurance reviews and system safety assessments, and on submitting final deliverables to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for regulatory review. Boeing is targeting FAA certification in 2026, with the first commercial deliveries expected to begin in 2027.
“Reaching this milestone is a huge testament to the commitment and dedication of the entire team,” said Chris Payne, vice president and general manager of 737 development programs at Boeing. “Thank you to everyone who gave so much of themselves to get us here. This is an important step on our journey, and we're focused on building on it as we move forward.”
Boeing originally planned to deliver the first MAX 10s in 2020. The program was delayed by the global grounding of MAX variants in 2019, heightened regulatory scrutiny, and recurring problems with the aircraft’s anti-ice system. While progress has accelerated over the past two years, the target entry-into-service date has slipped, most recently to early 2027 for initial commercial operations.
Why it matters: The MAX 10 fills a niche for airlines seeking higher-capacity single-aisle aircraft. Completing the flight test campaign and resolving outstanding safety and regulatory tasks are crucial steps before the jet can enter service and compete with rival models in the same market segment.
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