US wants to speed certification of new airplanes
BA•Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he wants to speed certification of new airplanes from Boeing and other manufacturers, citing competition concerns from China. Approvals can take five or more years, and the FAA proposed changes to modernize and speed certification in June.
1. Calls for faster approvals
Duffy said the government wants to speed airplane certification while maintaining aviation safety. He said slow approvals could cause the United States to lose ground to China and discourage private investment in aviation innovation.
2. Certification timelines
Approving a new airplane can take five or more years and require extensive testing, data and documentation. Boeing took more than eight years to get the 737 MAX 7 certified, with approval coming in August, while certification of the 777X is more than five years behind its original schedule.
3. FAA review
The FAA proposed changes in June to modernize and speed certification. Administrator Bryan Bedford has said the agency is working with industry on ways to streamline the process; Duffy also called for more competition and participants in commercial space.
