Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) is anticipating U.S. approval for the Boeing 737 MAX 10 before the end of the year and intends to move swiftly to validate that certification on Brazilian soil, agency head Tiago Faierstein said.
The MAX 10—Boeing's largest 737 narrowbody variant—has experienced lengthy delays in certification. Its eventual approval is considered important for Boeing and for operators such as Brazilian carrier Gol, which is relying on the aircraft for planned fleet growth.
Faierstein was careful to frame the timeline as tied to the U.S. regulator, noting limitations on commenting directly about the FAA process but expressing confidence in an approval within the year. "Because that is an FAA timeline, I can’t really comment, but I strongly believe it will happen this year," he said. On Brazil's role he added: "We will work to make it quick here as well. We know Gol really needs these aircraft."
ANAC and the FAA both sit on the Certification Management Team (CMT), a body that also includes European and Canadian regulators. The CMT framework is relevant as Boeing continues to address certification slowdowns that have affected its MAX 7 and MAX 10 programs, delays traced to an engine de-icing issue.
Beyond the conventional narrowbody certification pathway, Faierstein used a recent trip to the United States in May to press for collaborative approaches to the certification of a new class of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. He highlighted the importance of alignment between Brazilian and U.S. authorities as the industry moves toward battery-powered short-hop vehicles.
Embraer’s Eve unit has gained early momentum in development of eVTOL aircraft designed to ferry passengers on short urban trips and to provide alternatives to congested ground traffic. That program, however, has seen its service entry target move: Eve recently pushed back its expected entry into service to 2028 from 2027, after an earlier slip from an initial 2026 target.
Faierstein characterized the revised timeline as realistic given outstanding ecosystem requirements beyond the aircraft themselves. "Regarding the aircraft process, we are very confident. Embraer is making progress and the tests have been successful. The issue is the ecosystem," he said, pointing to the need for recharging infrastructure, pilot licensing and air-traffic-control rules that must be established to support commercial operations.
For regulators and carriers, the coming months will be focused on monitoring the FAA's schedule for the MAX 10 and on coordinating validation activities so that any U.S. certification can be recognized or quickly mirrored in Brazil. For the emerging eVTOL sector, regulators emphasized steps to develop operational frameworks and infrastructure as tests continue to advance.
Context and implications
The expected FAA decision on the MAX 10 could unlock near-term fleet planning for airlines waiting on the type, while ongoing work on eVTOL certification underscores the regulatory and infrastructure gaps that remain before urban air mobility becomes operational at scale.