The FAA Just Cleared Boeing's Biggest 737. That Is a Win for American Workers, and Proof Safety and Speed Can Coexist
On Oct. 20, after nearly 1,000 test flights and years of review, the FAA certified Boeing's 737 MAX 10, the plane behind more than 30% of Boeing's unfilled 737 MAX orders. In our view, it is a hard-won manufacturing victory, and the next test is building every jet right.
By Clara Hughes
ALTAS WORLD NEWS OPINION | By Clara Hughes, Chief Opinion Editor | October 21, 2026 | 6-min read For nearly a decade, Boeing's largest 737 was an American promise stuck on the ground. On Tuesday, as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy visited Boeing's factory in Everett, Washington, the Federal Aviation Administration announced that it has certified the 737 MAX 10 [1][2]. In our view, it is a real win for the men and women who build airplanes in this country, and it came the right way, through a long and demanding safety review, not a shortcut. Key Takeaways On Oct. 20, the FAA issued an amended type certificate and an updated Production Limitation Record for the 737 MAX 10, clearing it to be delivered to U.S. and foreign airlines [1]. The FAA required the jet to incorporate improvements tied to the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act and NTSB recommendations, including an enhanced angle-of-attack sensor in the flight-control system [1]. Boeing says the certification program included nearly 1,000 total test flights [3]. More than 30 customers have ordered 1,555 MAX 10s, more than 30% of the 737 MAX program's current order book [3][2]. Boeing says deliveries will begin "in the coming months" [3]. This is the last member of the 737 MAX family to win approval, and it is the one airlines have waited longest to fly. What the FAA Approved The FAA's language