FAA Clears Boeing 737 Max Software Glitch, Opening Path to Max 10 Certification

The Federal Aviation Administration has determined that a newly disclosed software glitch affecting certain Boeing 737 Max flight computers poses no flight-safety risk, clearing a key obstacle to certifying the 737 Max 10, the final model in Boeing's best-selling aircraft family still awaiting approval.

The ruling, delivered Friday by the FAA's Corrective Action Review Board, comes at a critical moment for Boeing as the manufacturer works to sell and deliver more aircraft after years of safety and manufacturing crises.

"Following a thorough review, a panel of FAA safety experts on Friday determined a software issue in certain Boeing 737 MAX flight computers is not a safety concern," the FAA said in a statement. "The FAA's Corrective Action Review Board made that determination because pilots retain full control of the aircraft and the indications to the flight crew are clear and unambiguous."

Boeing flagged the issue last month. The defect could affect certain landing procedures: the company said the problem could arise after a missed approach when pilots alter a preprogrammed flight path, forcing pilots to take additional steps to use automated tools on subsequent approaches. The FAA said Monday it was reviewing whether the glitch constituted a safety-of-flight issue, and it convened the review board on Friday to assess it. Participants included FAA experts on airframes, flight controls, propulsion, flight testing and other specialties.

The agency will issue a special bulletin to airlines instructing them how to recognize and respond to the issue if it arises in operation. The FAA left the door open to further action. "As with any situation, the FAA will consider appropriate action if it receives new information about this issue," the agency said.

U.S. airlines said the glitch does not affect their operations because they can revert to older versions of the software. But the disclosure had raised questions about the certification timeline for the 737 Max 10, which Boeing and its airline customers expected to receive in early fall.

The stakes are considerable for Boeing's delivery pipeline. The Max 10 is the largest variant in the 737 Max family and the last of the lineup awaiting government certification to fly. The FAA approved the Max 7, the smallest model in the family, in August.

Two of the aircraft's highest-profile customers expressed confidence this week that the delays would not derail their plans. Chief executives of Alaska Airlines and Ryanair — both 737 Max 10 customers — brushed off concerns about the certification timeline.

With the safety determination in hand, Boeing's path to delivering the Max 10 has narrowed to the certification process itself. Any new information surfacing about the software issue, however, could prompt the FAA to revisit its decision.