The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a software glitch affecting some Boeing 737 MAX flight computers poses no safety issue, removing a key hurdle to the certification of the delayed 737 MAX 10.
The FAA said its Corrective Action Review Board found that pilots retain full control of the aircraft and receive unambiguous indications if the issue occurs.
The software problem could prevent pilots from accessing automated flight guidance during an unusual landing scenario and may increase workload during a go-around. The FAA had delayed certification of the MAX 10 while it assessed the issue.
Reuters reported that the FAA’s decision could allow the MAX 10 to be certified as soon as later this month, in line with earlier expectations.
The same software is also used on the smaller MAX 7, which was certified by the FAA in August. Major US airlines had opted to use an earlier software version while the review was underway.
Canadian carrier WestJet first alerted Boeing to the issue in 2024 after detecting an anomaly during an entry-into-service test flight. The airline said it had received no reports of the condition during normal operations.
Boeing said it would follow the FAA’s lead while developing a software update and working with airlines on procedures to allow pilots to re-enable automated vertical navigation if the issue occurs.
The FAA said it will issue a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin to US airlines and foreign regulators to ensure they are aware of the issue.
