Washington, DC, October 1 – The United States seeks to accelerate FAA aircraft certification for new commercial airplanes amid growing China competition in aviation innovation. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that lengthy airplane certification processes hinder new designs from Boeing and other aircraft manufacturers. He emphasized the need for safe aviation while asking if the FAA can move faster on commercial airplane certification to restore US leadership. Approving a new airplane currently takes five or more years, with extensive testing data and documentation required.
The Federal Aviation Administration proposed changes in June to modernize and speed certification of new commercial airplanes while reducing costs and complexity. These aircraft certification reform measures aim to maintain or increase safety standards. Duffy warned that without faster airplane certification, the US will lose to China because private capital will not invest in projects needing a decade for approvals.
The effort could benefit manufacturers including Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, and Bombardier by streamlining the Boeing certification process and similar efforts. It took Boeing over eight years to certify the 737 MAX 7, which received approval in August. The 777X certification remains more than five years behind the original schedule, highlighting delays in current FAA aircraft certification.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford has pushed certification reforms through industry projects designed to streamline the process. Prior FAA leadership also explored technology to improve aircraft certification efficiency. Modernizing airworthiness standards will cut certification time and costs for new airplanes. These steps support aviation innovation while addressing China’s competition in global aircraft manufacturing.