FAA clears Boeing 737 MAX 10 to begin next phase of flight testing

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has authorized Boeing to begin Phase 2 flight testing for the 737 MAX 10, according to The Air Current.

The approval, granted just before the Christmas holiday, allows Boeing to proceed with regulatory inspections under the Type Inspection Authorization (TIA), a required phase in the certification process.

The MAX 10 is the largest variant in the 737 series, capable of carrying up to 230 passengers. It features a revised landing gear system to accommodate its longer fuselage and was designed as Boeing’s limited answer to the Airbus A321neo, which has led the single-aisle market in recent years.

Certification of the MAX 10 has been repeatedly delayed, alongside the smaller MAX 7, with Boeing citing technical hurdles such as upgrades to the aircraft’s engine anti-ice system.

FAA officials said in December 2025 that they would closely evaluate the aircraft’s new flight deck alerting system, which must comply with U.S. legal requirements mandating improved safety features within three years of certification.

Phase 2 of TIA introduces formal FAA oversight of flight testing, as regulators collect compliance data on critical systems and performance. Boeing did not comment on the milestone due to its pre-earnings quiet period. The FAA also declined to provide additional details to the outlet.

The 737 MAX 10 completed its first flight in June 2021. Boeing lists at least 1,290 net firm orders for the variant, according to the manufacturer’s latest backlog data. 

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Ricardo Meier

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