David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Boeing said on Wednesday it had made progress on developing a permanent solution to an issue with the 737 MAX engine de-icing system that has delayed certification of its smallest model, the MAX 7, and its largest model, the MAX 10.
A problem with the anti-ice system can cause it to overheat and potentially cause engine failure.
A source told Reuters that Boeing (NYSE:) plans to flight test the anti-icing system later this year and said certification of the MAX 7 could be pushed back to mid-2025.
Boeing Chief Financial Officer Brian West said in January that the anti-icing problem could be resolved “within a year.” Boeing has 35 MAX 7 and MAX 10 aircraft in its fleet.
Boeing, under scrutiny over its safety after a MAX 9 plane’s cockpit panel exploded, in January withdrew a request it filed with the Federal Aviation Administration last year seeking an exemption from a safety standard for the MAX 7 due to a problem that pushed back potential certification to 2025.
Aviation publication Air Current reported earlier Wednesday that Boeing’s fix would delay certification of the MAX 7 and MAX 10 until at least 2025.
The FAA, which has repeatedly refused to commit to any timeline for approval, said Wednesday it “will carefully review any designs submitted by Boeing.”
Sen. Tammy Duckworth in January called on Boeing to abandon its request for an exception, saying the problem could “cause the engine nacelle to break and fall. This could result in debris penetrating the fuselage, which could endanger passengers seated at the window behind the wing.”
Boeing said there were no safety incidents related to engine intake overheating during operation.
Last June, the planemaker advised airlines to follow established procedures when using the MAX engine de-icing system to prevent possible overheating, and last August the Federal Aviation Administration mandated an existing procedure to turn off the engine’s de-icing system when it is no longer needed. .
Southwest Airlines (NYSE:), the largest buyer of the MAX 7, said in January that it no longer plans to take deliveries of the model this year.
Boeing has said it must first get FAA approval for the MAX 7 before it can get certification for the larger and better-selling MAX 10.
After the best-selling MAX family of planes returned to service following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, Boeing at one point projected it would receive certification approval for the MAX 7 and MAX 10 by the end of 2022.