737-10: final systems push, eAoA debuts
The 737-10 is in the final segment of flight testing and development assurance work. Certification flight testing is 98% complete — with about 2,060 flight hours, 972 test flights and 1,033 ground test hours. The heavy lift remaining for the 737-10 is process rigor: development assurance reviews (DARs) and system safety assessments. DAR 3 work is complete; DAR 4 is 60% done, and system safety submittals are in progress.
Included in the 737-10 flight testing program has been demonstrating the compliance and performance of an update to the 737 engine anti-ice system. This improvement was driven by Boeing’s discovery of rare conditions that could cause overheating of the system without either pilot intervention or changes to the design.
Another major technology development highlight is the enhanced Angle of Attack (eAoA) system, which is being tested on the 737-10 and will be introduced fleet wide to simplify flight deck effects and inhibit erroneous warnings for all 737 MAX models. Project pilot Capt. Bill Quashnock described eAoA as a step to reduce flight deck cues that can be confusing.
Both 737 MAX updates, EAI and eAOA, will be introduced in production of all models and be baseline to the 737-7 and 737-10. They will also be retrofitted across the in-service 737 MAX fleet.
Near term, the 737-10 team will wrap up the last flight tests, complete remaining DAR 4 items, and finalize system safety submittals for FAA review.
