On Jan. 29, Boeing said it would withdraw a request for a critical safety waiver that would have allowed U.S. regulators to expedite certification of its upcoming 737 Max 7 aircraft, the latest impact of the aircraft maker's ongoing crisis.
Unlike the MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft, the MAX 7 is not yet in service and requires further certification and must be approved by the FAA and issued with an airworthiness certificate before it can be allowed to fly with passengers.
The safety exemption concerns the anti-icing system, which can cause the hood to overheat.
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee's Aviation Safety Subcommittee, said last week that she asked Boeing to withdraw its waiver request during a meeting with Boeing CEO Calhoun. One of the concerns she raised was that the anti-icing system could overheat and cause the engine nacelle to "crack and fall off."
"This could create debris that could penetrate the fuselage and endanger passengers in the window seats behind the wing," Duckworth said. ”
Boeing had previously hoped that the temporary safety waiver would speed up the certification process for the MAX 7, while preparing to roll out a permanent fix in May 2026. Following the request, the FAA agreed to a temporary solution that could be used for the Max 8 and Max 9 models, which also faced the same issues with the anti-icing system.
But after the recent Alaska Airlines MAX 9 door drop, the FAA has tightened its certification of new aircraft, and it is clear that Boeing will face more scrutiny pressure.
In a statement on January 29, Boeing said: "We have notified the FAA that we will withdraw our request for a time-limited exemption related to the MAX 7 engine inlet de-icing system. While we believe that the proposed time-limited waiver for this system follows established FAA processes to ensure the safe operation of aircraft, we have chosen to pursue a new alternative solution.
Support the FAA in strengthening its scrutiny and oversight of Boeing, and support Boeing's withdrawal of safety waivers for MAX 7 aircraft. In the aviation industry, safety is always the first place, and only safety can develop healthily.