Agency Proposes Changes That Would Streamline the Check-Out Process

The Federal Aviation Administration seems just as fed up with the delays plaguing US commercial aircraft manufacturers… and is finally putting in the work to fix them. The agency announced on September 3 that plans are in the works to speed the certification process of new airliners while aligning the US with international standards.

The FAA hopes to finalize proposals by December that would "modernize certain certification standards for transport category airplanes and propulsion systems," indicating that the changes would aim to reduce the number of "exemptions, special conditions, and equivalent level of safety findings required during the certification process."

The agency argues that streamlining the system will cut costs, shorten approval timelines, and bring U.S. standards closer to those used internationally, all while maintaining or improving safety benchmarks. Former Administrator Mike Whitaker hinted at similar updates during his tenure, noting the agency had been studying ways to modernize certification using updated technology and revised processes.

The timing is no coincidence. Boeing’s 737 MAX 7 certification has been pushed to no earlier than 2026, shortly after the company withdrew a request for an engine anti-ice system exemption. This delay directly impacts the aircraft's big sister, the 737 MAX 10, with United Airlines now saying it may not take deliveries until 2027 or 2028. In the meantime, the 777X program is trudging through its own test campaign, with Lufthansa not expecting its first 777-9 before next year.

The FAA sees these reforms as a way to skirt criticism that the certification pipeline has consistently drawn. By granting plane makers fewer paper hurdles, the agency could help prevent programs from stalling while preserving the oversight part of the equation… especially with it already facing intense scrutiny since the original MAX crisis.

If successful, the proposals would mark the first significant overhaul of the FAA’s commercial aircraft certification process in years.

FMI: www.faa.gov