The FAA has identified a software glitch in the Boeing 737 Max series that could impact landing procedures, leading to a delay in the certification of the Max 10 model. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated that the agency is currently assessing whether this issue constitutes a safety risk, emphasizing that safety is paramount in the certification timeline.
Boeing had anticipated receiving approval soon, but the revelation of this software problem has caused its shares to drop nearly 7%. The issue relates to the vertical navigation system, particularly in scenarios where an aircraft must go around due to obstructions on the runway. While pilots are trained for such situations, the FAA is investigating the workload implications of this glitch.
Boeing has faced numerous setbacks in the certification process, particularly following the crashes of the Max 8 models, and this latest delay adds to the challenges as it seeks to regain trust and deliver the Max 10, which has been pending certification since its initial planned delivery in 2020