Boeing has rescinded its appeal for a limited-term exception concerning the present engine inlet de-icing mechanism, which would have let the 737 Max 7 to be approved despite a known non-compliance with present regulations.
Last year, Boeing solicited permission from federal regulators to deliver its 737-7 airplanes to customers, even if they didn't meet a particular safety standard aimed at preventing the engine housing part from overheating and falling off while airborne.
Boeing found that running the plane's engine anti-ice (EAI) system under specific conditions could lead to the composite inlets overheating. This overheating could create a risk of the inlets disintegrating under operational stress. Consequently, the FAA implemented a temporary operational workaround for in-service 737 MAXs.
Boeing's decision to withdraw the exemption request follows the incident involving Alaska Airlines flight 1282 on January 5th. A manufacturing defect involving loose or missing bolts resulted in the loss of an emergency exit door plug mid-flight. This accident, paired with the subsequent grounding of nearly 200 planes, has cast a spotlight on Boeing's safety commitments.
In response to critique from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and others, Boeing stated that it would withdraw its petition seeking the FAA's permission to overlook safety standards and expedite the roll-out of planes with known safety defects. Both Boeing and the FAA are facing increased public scrutiny due to this incident and ongoing production quality issues.
Further details about the 737-7 and its new certification timeline are anticipated to be provided by Boeing during its annual earnings presentation for 2023 on January 31st. Previously, the 737-7 was expected to receive certification at the start of 2024. However, this recent decision is bound to delay FAA certification of the smallest MAX variant until at least 2025.
