Boeing Eager for Certification Before 2023

Rumors abound that Delta Air Lines is courting Boeing for an order of up to 100 of its 737 Max 10s ahead of the model's approval from the FAA. 

If true, the deal would be a blow to Boeing's archrival as the manufacturer pulls yet another of its favorite customers further under its wings. Delta has not placed an order from Boeing in some time, currently running a fleet of older  and 737-800s. The new Max 10 would be a definitive improvement over the airline's legacy 737-900ERs, boasting a passenger capacity of over 200.

The Max has yet to complete its certification, however, and Boeing is hoping it can get it in under the wire prior to the enactment date of the Aircraft Safety and Certification Reform Act of 2020. Once active, the type may require modifications to meet the new certification requirements, possibly incurring their most undesirable change in a new 737: Additional required training for pilots.

The prospect of a missed certification has been the central theme of Boeing's talks with lawmakers, the company stressing the deleterious effects on jobs and manufacturing should the Max 10 go uncertified. The situation echoes their earlier fiasco with the 737 Max, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by a number of media outlets hungry for a story. When asked, Boeing insisted that everything was being performed above board. 

"We continue to work transparently with the FAA to provide the information they need, and we are committed to meeting their expectations to achieve 737-10 certification,” said an emailed statement. 

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.delta.com