Summary
- Boeing has begun formal flight certification for 777-9.
- This comes after it received its Type Inspection Authorization (TIA).
- The 777X program has faced delays certification timeline due to additional regulatory oversight requirements and the impact of COVID-19.
On Saturday, Boeing confirmed that it had received type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the 777-9, paving the way for certification flight testing with US regulators onboard. This followed a report published overnight by The Air Current, confirming that the aircraft manufacturer had begun formal flight testing on Friday.
Formal flight certification finally begins
On social media, Boeing confirmed that its long-delayed flight certification process with the FAA has begun. On Friday evening, the third 777-9 test aircraft, registered N7779XY, took to the skies for a 1-hour, 52-minute flight with FAA pilots onboard.
Photo: Falcons Spotters | Shutterstock
The aircraft operated under the code BOE3 as per usual and, according to Flightradar24 data, circled the coastal area between Portland and Seattle. It took off from Seattle Boeing Field Airport (BFI) at 18:16 and landed back at 20:08 local time.
On social media, Boeing said:
TIA granted
Boeing has received its Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) for the 777-9, an essential step in the already delayed certification program. Typically, TIA is granted before certification flying begins, as is the case in this instance. This authorization demonstrates that aspects of the aircraft design are, in fact, ready for government evaluation.
In June 2021, it emerged that Boeing would have to complete more 777-9 analysis than initially planned before receiving its TIA. This came after the FAA sent a letter detailing its concerns with the aircraft type and highlighting that, at the time, it was not close to being ready. In the letter, it said:
“The FAA and Boeing have been discussing the TIA readiness of the Boeing Model 777-9 in numerous meetings over the past nine months. Based on our assessment, the FAA considers that the aircraft is not yet ready for TIA, even if it is a phased TIA of limited scope with a small number of certification flight test plans proposed.”
The letter also came after Boeing committed to a “major software update” to the aircraft to fix several issues. The changes also planned to address a “fix for the un-commanded pitch event that occurred on December 8, 2020.” This incident involved test aircraft #2, registered N779XX, which suffered a serious flight control incident.
Photo: Boeing
Additional TIA requirements and the impact of COVID-19 contributed to the manufacturer’s decision to delay its anticipated type certification timeline to late 2023.
Better days ahead?
Having initially promised to deliver the first 777X by 2020 when the aircraft was introduced to the public in November 2013, the type has seen repeated delays. Emirates’ CEO, for instance, is worried that the aircraft deliveries could be pushed to as late as 2026. In May, Singapore Airlines predicted it would receive its first example in late-2025.
Simple Flying also reported today that Korean Air could be interested in purchasing the 777X, which indicates that it will not completely switch to Airbus to supply its future long-haul fleet despite its order for 33 A350s earlier this year.
Photo: Emirates
While the 777-9 will not be present at the upcoming Farnborough Air Show, that could be the place Korean Air announces its order for the type should it be ready to do so in time.
Major existing customers for the 777X include Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines.