Boeing has received an amended type certificate for its new 737-7 airplane.
The certificate, which was awarded by the US Federal Aviation Administration, clears the aircraft for commercial service.
Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said:This important certification validates the rigor of our airplane's design and recognises the determination and resilience of our 737 MAX development team.
Our team of dedicated engineers and test experts worked through challenges, an extended pandemic, and the transition to new certification processes,
Boeing’s new 737-7, the smallest and longest-range member of the 737 MAX family, is expected to serve an important market segment by offering 135 to 160 seats (in a two-class configuration) whilst simultaneously providing roughly 10% more range potential than its siblings. Much like other 737 MAX jets; the 737-aims to reduce fuel use and CO2 emissions by 20% and noise footprint by 50% compared to the airplanes it typically replaces.
The regulatory approval caps a multi-year certification effort in which Boeing has demonstrated that the airplane meets all commercial aviation regulations. The test programme, which first began in 2018, has thus far included over 1,000 hours of flight and ground testing, extensive system safety analysis and human factors reviews, and the installation of an updated engine anti-ice system to address a potential condition that was discovered during flight testing.
Boeing and Southwest Airlines, the first customer to order a 737-7, are now preparing for delivery of the first airplane.
