United Airlines’ first Boeing 737 MAX 10 makes maiden flight despite certification
November 20, 2022
Third completed aircraft of the model took off for the first on November 18 and will be used in test flights along with the first two prototypes
The start of revenue flights of the 737 MAX 10, the largest
version of the jet ever developed, should only occur in 2024, but Boeing decided to foresee the future by painting
an aircraft of the model with the colors of United Airlines.
With registration number N6055X, the 737 MAX 10 made its
maiden flight on Friday, November 18th. It is the third aircraft completed so
far and will join the two prototypes that participated in the test program
aimed at certification.
United Airlines is one of the largest customers of the MAX 10 variant,
with capacity for up to 230 passengers. In June 2021, the US carrier closed an
order for 150 aircraft of the model, in addition to another 50 units of the MAX 8 version.
Despite Boeing’s gesture of optimism, the 737 MAX 10 is at serious risk
of having its approval by the FAA, the US civil aviation agency, postponed. The
reason is that new safety legislation requiring new commercial aircraft to be
equipped with a crew alert will come into effect from December 28th.
Boeing 737 MAX 7 (Steve Lynes/CC)
Both the 737 MAX 7, the smallest of the family, and the MAX 10 are behind schedule for
certification programs and will miss the deadline for not meeting the new requirements.
If an exception is not approved by the US Congress, Boeing will have to
redesign both to accommodate the new system, which would delay development by
several months. In addition, it will make the two new planes have different
equipment from the MAX 8 and MAX 9, already in service.
Perhaps United Airlines’ 737 MAX 10 could be a common sight just around
Boeing in Washington State for some time to come.
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