FAA Nears 737 MAX 10 Certification Despite Software Issue

Regulatory Progress for the 737 MAX 10

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to grant type certification to the Boeing 737 MAX 10 as early as the week of October 19, 2026. This milestone follows the successful conclusion of the final Type Certification Board Meeting (TCBM) held between Boeing and the regulator on October 16, 2026. The certification process for the largest variant of the 737 MAX family has reached this stage following 976 test flights and more than 2,060 flight hours.

Software Anomaly and Regulatory Review

The path to certification was complicated by a software anomaly within the aircraft's flight management computer (FMC), specifically affecting versions U14 and U14.1. The issue, which causes the Vertical Navigation (VNAV) mode to partially disengage during specific approach sequences, was first identified by WestJet pilots during a validation flight in November 2024. Investigative reports indicate that Boeing did not widely disclose the condition to its customer base for nearly two years.

On October 2, 2026, the FAA’s Corrective Action Review Board (CARB) formally reviewed the anomaly. The board determined that the condition does not constitute an unsafe flight condition. In an official statement regarding the board's findings, the agency noted that "pilots retain full control of the aircraft and the indications to the flight crew are clear and unambiguous." To address the behavior, the FAA plans to issue a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) to provide operators with procedural mitigations.

Airline Delivery Impacts

While the FAA has cleared the aircraft for certification, the software issue has influenced delivery operations. Reports confirm that several U.S. carriers, including United Airlines and Southwest Airlines, have refused to accept delivery of 737 MAX aircraft equipped with the U14/U14.1 software versions. Rather than rejecting the airframes, these airlines are requiring Boeing to perform a software rollback to earlier, more stable versions before accepting the aircraft. The MAX 10 remains a critical component of Boeing's commercial strategy, currently accounting for approximately 30% of the manufacturer's total 737 backlog, which comprises over 1,533 firm orders. The company now faces continued pressure to develop and deploy a permanent corrective update for the FMC software to resolve the operational concerns raised by its customers.