Government jobs • Exam updates • PreparationIndependent information portal
RojgarRankYOUR NEXT STEP STARTS HERE
Current Affairs

FAA Delays Boeing 737 MAX 10 Certification Over Flight Computer Software Issue

By Published

The US FAA has delayed certification of the Boeing 737 MAX 10 after Boeing found a flight management computer software issue affecting VNAV in a go-around scenario. Here are the dates, terms and open questions.

On this page
FAA Delays Boeing 737 MAX 10 Certification Over Flight Computer Software Issue — title card
RojgarRank title card.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has delayed certification of the Boeing 737 MAX 10 after Boeing identified a software issue in the aircraft's flight management computer (FMC). The issue affects software versions 14 and 14.1. It can cause loss of automated flight guidance, including vertical navigation (VNAV), in a specific go-around or missed-approach situation. As of 2 October 2026, the FAA has not announced a revised certification timeline.

The main source for this post is a GKToday report dated 2 October 2026. That is the publication date, not the date of the underlying events. The report places the market reaction on Monday, 28 September 2026, and does not give a separate date for the FAA announcement.

What happened

According to the report, the delay follows Boeing's identification of an FMC software problem. The FMC is an avionics system used for route management, navigation and performance calculations. VNAV is an automated mode that helps manage climb, cruise and descent profiles.

The reported trigger is a change to a preprogrammed flight path during a go-around or missed approach. In that situation, automated flight guidance, including VNAV, can be lost. The source does not describe any accident or injury linked to the issue.

Timeline: what is completed and what is pending

DateEventStatus as of 2 October 2026
November 2024Boeing first learned of the issue from an operator reportCompleted, per the source
February 2025Boeing carried out an internal assessmentCompleted, per the source
August 2026Boeing notified 737 operatorsCompleted, per the source
September 2026Boeing began a formal safety reviewStarted; the source does not say whether it has finished
Monday, 28 September 2026Boeing shares fell by about 7% after the delay was announcedCompleted market reaction
Not statedFAA Corrective Action Review Board (CARB)Planned; the source gives no meeting date or outcome
Not statedRevised MAX 10 certification timelineNot announced

Why it matters

Certification and safety oversight

Certification is how a regulator checks that an aircraft design meets airworthiness and safety standards. Here, the FAA plans to use a CARB to assess whether the software issue creates a safety-of-flight risk and to decide on corrective actions. Because the board is described only as planned, no conclusion on risk or remedy can be reported yet.

Commercial impact

The report says Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have stated they will not accept new aircraft deliveries fitted with the affected software. It also notes the roughly 7% fall in Boeing shares on 28 September 2026. The evidence does not quantify delivery delays or financial losses, so none are claimed here.

Exam-relevant background

  • FAA: the civil aviation regulator of the United States, responsible for aircraft certification and safety compliance.
  • Boeing 737 MAX 10: the largest variant in the 737 MAX family, a narrow-body, twin-engine commercial aircraft. The family also includes the MAX 7, MAX 8 and MAX 9.
  • FMC: an avionics system for route management, navigation and performance calculations.
  • VNAV: an automated flight mode that helps manage climb, cruise and descent profiles.
  • CARB: a safety review mechanism used to assess technical issues in aviation certification matters.
  • Software developer: the report states that GE Aerospace developed the affected FMC software versions 14 and 14.1.

These points suit general-awareness and science-and-technology revision. No source here says that any exam will ask about this topic.

Earlier 737 MAX scrutiny

The 737 MAX's design and certification have drawn official scrutiny before. A US House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee publication, issued on 1 March 2020, is titled The Boeing 737 Max Aircraft: Costs, Consequences, and Lessons from Its Design, Development, and Certification: Preliminary Investigative Findings. The supplied evidence includes only its catalogue details, not its text. So this post draws no conclusions about what it found or how it relates to the current software issue.

Limits of the evidence

  • The account relies on one secondary report. No FAA or Boeing statement was supplied.
  • The exact date of the FAA announcement is not given.
  • The status and outcome of Boeing's formal safety review are not stated.
  • No CARB date, finding or corrective action is reported.
  • No new certification date has been announced.

FAQ

Has the Boeing 737 MAX 10 been certified?

The evidence does not report certification. It says the FAA delayed the process and has announced no revised timeline.

Has the FAA's review board met?

The source says the FAA plans to convene a Corrective Action Review Board. It does not say that the board has met or reached a decision.

Which software versions are affected?

The report names flight management computer software versions 14 and 14.1.

← Back to Current Affairs