FAA has no 'specific timetable' to approve Boeing 737 MAX 7 - administrator

investing.com:

By David Shepardson and Valerie Insinna

ARLINGTON, Virginia (Reuters) -The Federal Aviation Administration has no «specific timetable» to certify the Boeing (NYSE:BA) 737 MAX 7, the agency's top official told Reuters on Tuesday.

FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said the agency will certify the smallest variant of the best-selling MAX when «we have all the data that we need and it is safe.»

Whitaker added that he is making sure he is getting briefed «on status, to understand the issues that are arising in that process» on the MAX 7 and other projects.

Whitaker said «the issues are being worked and that will continue.»

Boeing, which did not immediately comment, has said previously it expects MAX 7 certification by the end of this year. In October, company executives said its schedule remained unchanged. Boeing is also awaiting certification of the larger 737 MAX 10.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV), the largest customer for the MAX 7, told Reuters last month it expects the FAA to certify the plane by April.

Boeing is currently pursuing an exemption to certain regulations concerning the MAX 7's engine nacelle inlet structure and engine anti-ice system, which are the same as those used by the in-service MAX 8.

The exemption — which would run until May 31, 2026 — would allow MAX 7 certification while Boeing also certifies design changes for both systems, necessary to fix issues involving the overheating of the engine anti-ice system that could cause structural damage to the engine nacelle.

The FAA is accepting comments on the proposed exemption through Dec. 26.

The FAA last month said it would require key flight control design changes to be considered «major» like the system involved in two fatal MAX crashes in 2018 and