While the certification programs of the new airplanes are underway, the procedures adopted since 2020 prove too long. Appeal of CEO Ortberg: “Perfect the processes”
Light at the bottom of the tunnel for Boeing: the next arrival of the certification for the model was announced 777-9 For 2026, a milestone achieved in late compared to what initially scheduled before the (too many) events that have marked the recent history of the American manufacturer.
The news of the company gave the news, Kelly Ortbergat the conference organized at the Morgan Stanley Laguna (Dana Point, California), on 11 September, where Ortberg admitted: “We still do not have the authorization of the FAA (the US aeronautical authority, editor’s note) to carry out the last part of the program, so we are working with FAA at this moment, but this had been foreseen with our plan to obtain certification”.
The timing and risks for the companies
The timing expected by Boeing would include both the approval of the FAA and the first deliveries during 2026, a very long time that could put the vectors who have chosen the new airplane to renew their fleet.
Ortberg also stressed that the latest delays are not linked to technical problems: “Both the airplane and the engine GE Aerospace GE9X They are really working quite well. “
The financial implications
Boeing CEO said that the top management are evaluating the question to determine their potential implications: “I asked the head of company finance (CFO) Jay Malave To dedicate some time during this quarter, to carefully examine this slipping of the program and to understand its implications by suggesting a plan for the future. We can fly, but we cannot obtain the certification credit until we obtain the authorization for type and formal inspection for the tests from the FAA. “
FAA checks
For its part, the Aeronautical Authority has divided the certification process of B777-9 In different phases, but before approving one and allowing pilots to board the plane, it must be convinced that the project complies with applicable regulations.
Contacted by specialized press, the FAA has maintained silence and refused to comment on the status of the aircraft certification program expected by Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Korean Air, All Nippon Airways, China Airlines and Air India.
New Post-737 Max rules
Part of the new process is linked to the requirements introduced by the rules adopted in 2020, after the crisis caused by accidents to B-737 Maxwhich have limited the delegation of the certification activities granted to industry.
The arrival of Ortberg and the change of several managers involved one internal revolution Just as Boeing was in the middle of the 777-9 program and committed to obtaining approval for the last two variants of 737 Max, the “-7” and “-10” versions. All three programs have undergone delays, some for technical reasons, others linked to the new protocol.
Perspectives and challenges
Today the new Boeing airplanes seem to be on the right way to get the approvals over the next year, provided that it is revised and approved theAnti -jacket of the engine.
Ortberg explained: “At the last meeting on the financial results held in July we postponed the completion of the certification from the end of the year to next year; the good news is that since then we have made excellent progress in the design of what should be modified and I am rather confident that we are hitting the target. Currently we are working with the FAA for the certification of that project, to understand which activities must be carried out to obtain the certification next year and deliver the airplane. “
The node of certification
“It is clear that the certification process is too slow, we must collaborate with the aeronautical authority to bring the situation back to normal and make it a process that works. I cannot imagine that we can create a new plane without that process being perfected.”
A crucial point, considering that today also in Europe the certification weighs for the 45% on the production cost of an aircraft.
