Boeing is finally close to obtaining certification for the 737 MAX 7, the smallest variant of the single-aisle jet family. That’s what Stan Deal, President of the commercial aircraft division, told reporters in the US on Thursday.
According to the executive, “It’s just completing the final submittals” for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US civil aviation authority.
“We’re working a few issues around those submittals. I want them to be perfect, I want the FAA to feel comfortable, and then give them the time to go review,” he concluded.
In previous statements, the planemaker predicted that the 737-7 would be certified in 2023 while the 737-10, with up to 230 seats, would remain for 2024. Both aircraft have a large backlog of orders from companies such as Southwest and United Airlines.
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Deal also revealed that the monthly production pace of the 737 MAX will be increased “very soon”. Currently, Boeing produces 31 aircraft per month, but aims to reach a monthly rate of 50 aircraft by 2026.
The company has announced several new deals across the 737 family after a long period in which the aircraft grounded for safety concerns alienated many customers and resulted in lost orders.
767 back to deliveries
Stan Deal also addressed Boeing’s former widebody 767, which had its deliveries suspended in late 2022 because of a problem with a sealant sticking.
According to him, deliveries will resume shortly. Boeing has KC-46 orders from the US Air Force, Japan and Israel that are based on the 767-200.
In addition, there are 55 orders pending for delivery of the 767-300F cargo version to UPS, FedEx and the Government of Tanzania.
On the increase in production of the 787 Dreamliner, Deal declined to make any predictions. The aircraft has gone through several production problems that have paralyzed deliveries in recent years.
