Boeing is close to receiving approval for its latest 737 MAX: the software glitch has been deemed safe

The U.S. regulatory agency found no threat to flight safety due to a software glitch in some of the Boeing 737 MAX's onboard computers. The decision clears the way for the certification of the MAX 10—the long-awaited and largest version of the 737 family.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has concluded that a software issue that could cause the automatic navigation system to fail during the final approach does not pose a safety threat. “Pilots retain full control of the aircraft, and the information provided to the crew is clear and unambiguous,” Reuters quoted the regulator as saying. An FAA spokesperson said that Boeing will provide airlines with instructions on how to identify the problem and respond if it occurs.

Analysts at Jefferies believe this decision will allow MAX 10 to receive approval as early as the end of the year. The model, which the market has been awaiting for several years, was in the final stage of certification prior to the start of the FAA review.

The glitch occurred after a routine cockpit software update, which Boeing notified airlines about in August, The Wall Street Journal has learned. The problem can occur after a go-around, when the crew deviates from the preprogrammed flight path. In certain situations, pilots may lose access to the automated vertical navigation function and switch to manual control without certain features.

Industry representatives feared that the actions pilots would have to take in such a situation could place an excessive burden on them—especially at low altitudes, when they are already busy and may simultaneously have to deal with, for example, bad weather, according to The Wall Street Journal.

In addition to the MAX 10, the problematic software version is also installed on the smaller 737 Max 7 model, which has already been certified.

The aircraft is the largest variant in the 737 MAX family, the latest generation of Boeing’s best-selling passenger jet. It is one of the models on which the company is pinning high hopes in its efforts to increase cash flow and strengthen its balance sheet after several challenging years. Orders for the MAX 10 total more than 1,500 units.

Meanwhile, major U.S. carriers Southwest and United have informed Boeing that they do not want to receive new aircraft with the problematic software version and have asked for an earlier version to be installed, according to the WSJ. American Airlines and Alaska Airlines have also stated that they do not operate aircraft with this version of the software.

Meanwhile, the low-cost carrier Allegiant Air continues to operate 21 737 MAX 7 aircraft equipped with the problematic software. The glitch does not affect ongoing landing approaches, and crews have been trained to follow the procedures provided by Boeing, according to a statement from the airline cited by the WSJ.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor