Boeing CEO Says 737 MAX 10 Certification Is 'Very Soon' as Final FAA Documentation Nears Completion
Why It MattersCertification timing for a single derivative variant can still gate when a manufacturer's largest backlog share converts into deliveries and production ramp.
What happened
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said certification of the 737 MAX 10 is imminent, telling attendees at the Morgan Stanley Laguna Conference on Wednesday that only three deliverables remained to complete the FAA's requirements. "When I left Seattle yesterday, I think we had three deliverables to complete all the deliverables to the FAA," Ortberg said. "I think you're going to see that certification very soon."
Boeing completed the MAX 10's final planned certification flight in July after 976 flights totalling more than 2,060 flight hours. Testing covered the aircraft's landing gear, braking systems, engine anti-ice changes, and an enhanced angle-of-attack system. The FAA will determine when the aircraft has met the requirements for an amended type certificate.
Boeing has already begun production of the MAX 10, building two aircraft at its Everett, Washington facility as part of certifying the new production line. Ortberg said the MAX 10 accounts for approximately 30% of Boeing's 737 backlog and that production will eventually reflect a similar share of total MAX output. The MAX 10 is the largest variant in the 737 MAX family, and Boeing continues to target initial customer deliveries in 2027. The FAA certified the smaller 737 MAX 7 in August after its own extended certification program.
Industry impact & what to watch
A derivative variant's certification often lags its siblings even after flight testing wraps, because paperwork and documentation review sit on the FAA's own schedule rather than the manufacturer's. The MAX 7 followed that same pattern, clearing its own extended program in August before the MAX 10 reached this final stage.
Backlog composition makes the MAX 10's timing matter more than a typical variant clearance would: with roughly 30% of Boeing's 737 orders tied to this model, the pace at which the FAA closes out the remaining deliverables sets how quickly Everett's new production line can ramp toward matching that share of total MAX output.
The next concrete marker is the FAA's own determination on the amended type certificate, followed by whether Boeing holds to its 2027 target for initial customer deliveries once that certificate is issued.
