FAA Still Making Boeing 737 MAX Jump Through Safety Hoops
Published Date: 12/15/2025
Notice
Summary
Starting one year after the FAA approves the Boeing 737-10, all Boeing 737 MAX planes must have new safety features like a smart angle-of-attack system and ways to turn off certain warnings before they can fly. This affects airlines and Boeing, ensuring safer flights with updated tech. These changes might mean some updates and costs, but they’re all about keeping passengers safe and sound.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
No new certificates without safety upgrades
Starting one year after the FAA approves the Boeing 737-10 type certificate, the FAA will not issue an original airworthiness certificate for any Boeing 737 MAX aircraft unless the aircraft's type design includes a synthetic enhanced angle-of-attack system and a means to shut off stall-warning and overspeed alerts (or equivalents). This rule applies to aircraft type designs when the one-year period begins after FAA approval of the 737-10.
Operation barred after three years without retrofit
Beginning three years after the FAA type-certifies the Boeing 737-10, no Boeing 737 MAX aircraft may be operated unless the aircraft's type design includes the synthetic enhanced angle-of-attack system and a means to shut off stall-warning and overspeed alerts, and each individual aircraft was produced or altered to conform with that type design. The three-year deadline is measured from FAA type certification of the 737-10.
FAA will monitor retrofits and service information
The FAA will monitor Boeing to ensure the company provides service information to operators in time to meet the required deadlines, and the FAA will monitor operators to ensure retrofit of in-service U.S.-registered Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is accomplished prior to the required deadline. This monitoring is part of the FAA's implementation plan for Section 44744.
FAA to evaluate and certify required designs
As part of its implementation plan, the FAA will evaluate and, as appropriate, certify the proposed design of the required safety enhancements for the Boeing Model 737-10 and will evaluate and, as appropriate, certify design changes that would incorporate the required safety enhancements on all other Boeing 737 MAX models.
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