The Boeing 737 Max 10 currently has no FAA certification. Now CEO Dave Calhoun is building up pressure and is even threatening to discontinue the program because the deadline for certification in its current state expires at the end of the year.

Among other things, the manager told the industry journal “Aviation Week” that without an agreement with Congress, Boeing could have to discontinue this model. The background is that from January 1, 2023, the Aircraft Certification, Safety and Accountability Act stipulates that every newly certified aircraft must be equipped with a central warning system. In contrast to the Boeing 767, this is not the case with the 737 Max series, which is formally regarded as a further development of the 737NG.

If the Max-10 does not receive type approval before the end of the year, extensive changes would have to be made. This would mean that the consistency among the individual models would no longer be given. Pilots may need a different type rerating for the Max-10. That would be a serious disadvantage for airlines, which is why the Boeing boss is now threatening to discontinue the program. So far there have been around 600 orders for the Max-10.

But there are also signs that Boeing does not want to implement the upgrade because it is too expensive. Although it is pointed out that the pilots would then no longer be able to easily switch between the individual Max variants, former Boeing employees and a former FAA official testified before the US Congress in April 2022 that it was more about is a question of will and not a technical question.

Boeing is now trying to accelerate type approval through public pressure. After all, many jobs depend on it. It remains to be seen whether Calhoun is actually willing to go so far and completely discontinue the competitor to the Airbus A321neo.