Boeing Confirms Withdrawal of MAX 7 FAA Safety Exemption Request

Boeing retracted its request for safety exemption for its 737 Max 7 jets. The aircraft maker confirmed it officially withdrew its request, which was submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last year.

As per WION News, Boeing was seeking an exemption from a safety standard that is critical for the certification of its 737 MAX 7 planes. But this request has been extracted, and the company acknowledged withdrawing its request from the FAA on Monday, Jan. 29.

Opposition to Boeing's Exemption Request

According to the reports, Boeing withdrew its Max 7 safety request due to intensified safety concerns for the aircraft. The company also knows many key aviation sector figures have opposed the exemption.

Senator Tammy Duckworth is one of the people who has vehemently opposed Boeing's request from the FAA. The lawmaker is chairman of the aviation safety subcommittee on aviation safety and stressed that if the exemption is granted, it could allow the 737 MAX 7 to take flight for commercial service too early.

"This involves an anti-ice system that can overheat and cause the engine nacelle to break apart and fall off," the senator explained while pointing out a particular concern if planes are allowed to operate prematurely. "This could generate fuselage-penetrating debris, which could endanger passengers in window seats behind the wing."

Boeing's Official Withdrawal of Plea

With pressure from Duckworth, who also sent a letter to the FAA to ensure that the aviation agency would reject the exemption request, Boeing finally decided to withdraw it. If Boeing does not withdraw and the FAA grants the exemption, the company will be allowed to deliver the Max 7 planes to airlines as soon as they are certified. CBS News reported that Senator Maria Cantwell called the plane manufacturer's decision "good news."

"We have informed the FAA that we are withdrawing our request for a time-limited exemption relating to the engine inlet deicing system on the 737-7," Boeing said in a statement. "While we are confident that the proposed time-limited exemption for that system follows established FAA processes to ensure safe operation, we will instead incorporate an engineering solution that will be completed during the certification process."

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