AeroTime
• Stephen Pope
The FAA is delaying certification of Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 while it reviews a software issue, Administrator Bryan Bedford said. Bedford provided no timetable for approval, leaving the aircraft’s certification schedule unresolved and extending uncertainty around Boeing’s largest 737 MAX variant.
Aviation Safety & Regulation
Latest source-backed stories
High activity
The FAA is delaying certification of Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 while it reviews a software issue, Administrator Bryan Bedford said. Bedford provided no timetable for approval, leaving the aircraft’s certification schedule unresolved and extending uncertainty around Boeing’s largest 737 MAX variant.
Investigators initially feared the bomb threats against Bangor International Airport reflected an insider’s knowledge because the calls contained specific operational details. Authorities later identified a man who allegedly exploited an internet relationship with an American Airlines employee to make the threats, highlighting vulnerabilities around employee-linked information and airport security.
High activity
Airbus has identified a coating defect on fuselage stringers supplied by a subcontractor on around 500 A321neo aircraft. Rework may take up to nine days per aircraft, while affected operators could have as long as two years to complete repairs, adding pressure to September delivery targets.
The PC-12 PRO has received FAA and EASA certification for a Garmin-based emergency Autoland system that can take control if the pilot becomes incapacitated, select a suitable airport and complete the landing without pilot input. The approval marks a significant safety milestone for Pilatus’ latest single-engine turboprop.
Business aviation groups are seeking access to the safety data behind the FAA’s decision to rescind single-pilot authorizations for certain Cessna Citation aircraft. Operators say the sweeping policy change could affect flight operations and are pressing the agency for transparency on its risk assessment.
High activity
The Paris Criminal Court convicted Spanish operator Swiftair of involuntary manslaughter on Sept. 28, 2026, over the July 2014 crash of Air Algérie flight AH5017 in Mali. All 116 people aboard the McDonnell Douglas MD-83 were killed in the accident.
High activity
Airbus has identified a quality defect in a protective coating on a structural component of the A321neo, potentially affecting several hundred aircraft, including as many as 500. The issue does not compromise flight safety, but operators must complete repairs within two years rather than the normal four-year maintenance cycle, adding pressure to deliveries and fleet planning.
Qantas has joined ZIPAIR and WestJet in urging the FAA to retain Midway Island airport as an ETOPS diversion option. The carriers say removing the Pacific stop would raise operating costs and disrupt transpacific flying, including Qantas’ planned ultra-long-haul Airbus A350-1000 operations.
Create a free account to see more recent Aviation Safety & Regulation stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
