Janice R. Andrews
The Air Current reported on Friday that Boeing has formally started flight testing of its 777-9 aircraft with US aviation regulators on board. This is a major step forward in the certification procedure for the aircraft.
As part of a critical certification milestone known as the Type Inspection Authorisation (TIA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiated the flight testing. This milestone shows that a number of 777-9 design elements are prepared for government review to guarantee regulatory compliance. Citing people with knowledge of the programme, The Air Current emphasised this as a critical advancement for Boeing.
When Reuters reached out to Boeing and the FAA for comments outside of usual business hours, neither agency has yet to reply.
The original 777 wide-body plane has evolved into the larger and more fuel-efficient 777X, especially the 777-9 variant. The 777-9 project was put on hold in 2013 and has since seen multiple setbacks. The chairman of Emirates, the biggest user of the aircraft, said in May that the 777-9 would not be certified until the first quarter of 2025.
The FAA has been closely monitoring Boeing due to safety concerns, especially after a 737 MAX plane’s mid-air panel blew out in January. Furthermore, the FAA opened an inquiry in April into claims made by a whistleblower that Boeing had disregarded quality and safety issues when producing the 787 and 777 aircraft.
As it attempts to fulfil regulatory criteria and deliver the new aircraft to its customers, Boeing is facing a critical moment with this latest development in the 777X certification process.
