New Delhi

Boeing has begun to make progress with regard to addressing a critical engine issue that has stalled the certification of its 737 MAX 7 and 10 models.

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The aircraft manufacturer announced on Wednesday that it is developing a permanent fix for the anti-ice system, which has been causing overheating problems that could potentially lead to engine failure.

The company plans to conduct flight tests for the anti-ice fix later this year, with certification for the MAX 7 now pushed to mid-2025.

Boeing's Chief Financial Officer Brian West in January said that the anti-ice issue could be resolved within a year.

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Currently, Boeing has 35 of the MAX 7 and MAX 10 planes in inventory awaiting certification.

In January, Boeing withdrew its request to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for an exemption from safety standards related to this issue.

This withdrawal effectively pushed the certification date for the MAX 7 into 2025.

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The FAA has maintained that it will thoroughly review any design changes Boeing submits but has not provided a specific timeline for approval.

Senator Tammy Duckworth had previously urged Boeing to drop its exemption request, highlighting concerns that the anti-ice system issue could cause the engine nacelle to disintegrate, potentially endangering passengers.

Boeing has stated that there have been no safety incidents related to the overheating issue.

Last June, the company issued guidance to airlines to follow existing procedures for the engine anti-ice system, and the FAA mandated these procedures last August.

Southwest Airlines, the largest customer for the MAX 7, announced in January that it no longer expected to receive deliveries of the model this year.

Boeing must secure FAA approval for the MAX 7 before it can proceed with the certification of the larger, more commercially popular MAX 10.

Initially, Boeing anticipated certification for both the MAX 7 and MAX 10 by the end of 2022.

However, the company has faced heightened scrutiny and regulatory challenges, delaying the return to service for its best-selling MAX family of jets after the two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.

(With inputs from Reuters)