The manufacturer says the FAA approved more test flights.
A Boeing 777X test aircraft (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Boeing says it has the Federal Aviation Administration’s blessing to expand flight testing activity on its 777X. The widebody jet is still set for delivery next year.
The 777X test fleet was grounded for approximately five months due to the discovery of cracks in engine mounting hardware. Test flights resumed in January.
During a Wednesday earnings call, Boeing leadership stated that an increase in flight tests is planned for this year. These tests include additional aerodynamics, brakes, and engine activities, CEO Kelly Ortberg shared.
“The aircraft are flying daily and performing well in flight testing,” he added.
Test bed 777X aircraft have recently been flying in a variety of environments, including Curaçao and Kona, Hawaii.
Boeing has four active 777X test aircraft, according to data from planespotters.net.
Certification for Boeing’s 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 models is also continuing, Ortberg said. Initial deliveries of these aircraft aren’t planned until at least 2026.
A Boeing 737 MAX 10 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
“Along with the 777X, the [737-7 and -10] continue with their certification programs, and there is no change to our previously shared certification timeline on any of the commercial programs,” he continued.
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