And this despite the fact that the 737 MAX 10 has already completed more than 400 flights and has flown almost 1,000 hours in Boeing’s own test program
Boeing announced that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has allowed it to begin certification flight tests of the 737 MAX 10 aircraft. Against this news, the company's shares rose 1.1%.
“ This is an important milestone as we work to certify the 737-10 aircraft for entry into passenger service for operators around the world ,” said Mike Fleming, Boeing vice president of commercial aircraft development programs.
Regulatory approval marks the start of the certification process, which will now involve FAA pilots participating in flight testing. In the Boeing 737 MAX 10 test program itself, it has already completed more than 400 flights and logged almost 1,000 flight hours.
The 737 MAX 10 is the largest model in Boeing's best-selling aircraft line and is the answer to the Airbus A321neo. But if you look at the key characteristics, it becomes clear that the 737 MAX 10 is an analogue of the Russian MC-21. Thus, the “American” has 230 seats for passengers and a flight range of 5.74 thousand km, while the MS-21 has 211 seats and a flight range of up to 5.1 thousand km.
Apparently, these planes will also take off almost simultaneously: the first deliveries of the Boeing 737 MAX 10 and MC-21 to carriers are planned for 2024. It is known that the MS-21 will begin commercial transportation in 2025.