FAA Now Lets Boeing Self-Certify 737 MAX & 787, Decide If They’re Safe To Fly

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has restored Boeing's ability to consistently issue its own airworthiness certificates for new 737 MAX and 787 aircraft. This marks a shift from the alternating-week self-certification model implemented in late September 2025, which was introduced to monitor production quality after Boeing's certification privileges were revoked in 2019 (for the MAX) and 2022 (for the 787). The decision follows a review where the FAA found no significant difference in quality between planes certified by Boeing versus those certified directly by the FAA. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated that safety remains the priority and that inspectors will now focus on critical assembly stages and Boeing's Safety Management System (SMS). This change is expected to improve production efficiency and help Boeing deliver aircraft more quickly to airlines