FAA Restores Boeing Self-Certification for 737 MAX and 787

The Federal Aviation Administration has restored Boeing's authority to self-certify its 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner aircraft, a significant step for the manufacturer as it seeks to ramp up production and deliveries. The decision, announced on July 18, 2026, will take effect on July 20, returning a key responsibility that had been stripped away following a series of safety crises.

Under the new arrangement, Boeing will be allowed to issue airworthiness certificates for all 737 MAX and 787 planes, effectively shifting parts of the certification workflow back to the manufacturer. The FAA said the move follows months of data and safety reviews that demonstrated consistent production quality. The agency stated the decision reflects its confidence in Boeing's ability to issue the certificates under continued FAA oversight.

This authority had been revoked in stages. Federal regulators took full control over 737 MAX approvals in 2019 after two fatal crashes were linked to a flight-control software system. The FAA later ended Boeing's self-certification rights for the 787 in 2022, citing persistent production quality issues. The regulatory crackdown intensified after a midair incident in...