FAA clears 737 MAX flight computer software issue, allowing MAX 10 certification to proceed

The Federal Aviation Administration has determined that a software issue affecting flight computers on some Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is not a safety concern, removing an obstacle to certification of the 737 MAX 10.

The finding followed a review by the agency's Corrective Action Review Board, which met after certification work was delayed over the issue last week. The FAA said pilots retain full control of the aircraft and that the indications shown to flight crews are clear and unambiguous.

The issue involves an automated navigation function that can become unavailable during certain procedures after a missed approach, adding to pilot workload at a busy point in the flight. Boeing is preparing a permanent software change and has issued interim procedures for operators. The FAA said it will provide operators with more information about the condition.

The decision allows MAX 10 certification to proceed after the software review interrupted the programme's final stages. Boeing completed the MAX 10's last planned certification flight in July, after 976 flights and more than 2,060 flight hours, and said the programme would move to development assurance reviews, system safety assessments and other closing material for the FAA.

In a 16 September update, Boeing chief executive Kelly Ortberg said the company was coordinating closely with the regulator and expected certification soon, calling the programme's current stage its documentation phase. Boeing has said it expects the MAX 10 to be certified in 2026, with first deliveries in 2027.