FAA Finally Certifies Boeing's Smallest 737 Max

Boeing's smallest 737 Max is finally getting the green light. Nearly 10 years after the plane was first rolled out, the Federal Aviation Administration has certified the 737 Max 7, clearing the way for airlines to eventually put the jet into service, CNBC reports. The FAA says the signoff follows years of scrutiny and required Boeing to add safety changes, including updated flight-control software, revised crew alerting, and a redesigned engine anti-ice system to prevent overheating. The FAA tightened scrutiny after two crashes of the larger Max 8 in 2018 and 2019 killed hundreds of people in Ethiopia and Indonesia, reports the AP.

The plane will likely be used on short and medium-haul routes. Southwest Airlines, one of the carriers with outstanding orders, said it is looking forward to putting the planes into service. The approval is a key financial break for Boeing, which has around 40 Max 7s and larger Max 10s already built but undelivered; it books most of a plane's value at handoff. Boeing is still awaiting certification of the Max 10 and its 777X wide-body as it tries to rebuild trust and boost production, reports CNBC.