Boeing 777-9 granted FAA certification following test flight

Personnel from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were on board the test flight and subsequently granted the aircraft Type Inspection Authorisation (TIA).

The Boeing team has put the 777-9 test fleet through more than 1,200 flights and 3,500 flight hours across a wide range of regions and climate conditions.

"This certification test flight validates the aircraft's safety, reliability, and performance. We appreciate our regulator’s rigorous oversight and are grateful to our customers who have chosen the 777-9 for its efficiency, environmental performance, and passenger comfort," stated Boeing in a press release.

The 777-9 flight test fleet has undergone the most thorough commercial flight tests Boeing has ever undertaken. The aerospace giant has also spent significant time working through the required certification deliverables in preparation for TIA. The flight test fleet visited 17 US states and seven countries and participated in air shows in India, Dubai, France, the United Kingdom, and Singapore.

480 Boeing 777X aircraft have been ordered so far. In addition to the 777-9, the 777X family includes the 777-8 Freighter and the 777-8 passenger jet.

The Boeing 777-8, 777-8 Freighter and 777-9 are the newest members of Boeing’s market-leading wide body aeroplane family. Boeing announced the family in 2013 at the Dubai Airshow, the largest product launch in commercial jetliner history by dollar value, and expanded the family in 2022 by launching the new 777-8 Freighter with Qatar Airways, the largest freighter commitment by dollar value in Boeing history.

Based on the most successful wide body family ever, the 777, and with advanced technologies from the 787 Dreamliner family, the 777X family is designed to maximise efficiency and environmental performance while providing an exceptional experience.

Boeing designed the 777-8 and 777-9 passenger planes to respond to market needs and customer preferences. The 777-8 competes directly with the A350-1000, while the 777-9 fills a unique segment in the twin-aisle market.

Opening new growth opportunities for airlines, the 777-9 seats 426 passengers in a typical two-class configuration, with a range of 7,295 nautical miles (13,510 km). The 777-9 will be the largest and most fuel-efficient twin-engine jet in the world, with the lowest operating cost per seat of any commercial aeroplane and an exceptional passenger experience.

The 777-8 seats 395 passengers with an incredible range capability of up to 8,745 nautical miles (16,190km). The 777-8 also has the capacity to provide more revenue through more payload and improved fuel efficiency at both short and long ranges. This capability also allows the 777-8 to carry that increased payload at more challenging airports, such as those constrained by high altitudes or hot temperatures. The 777-8 offers both range and payload, maximizing value for operators.

The 777X family is designed to maximise efficiency. Improvements in engineering design and innovative technologies, including a new carbon-fibre composite wing, all-new engines and a natural laminar flow nacelle, will help the 777-9 achieve 10 per cent lower fuel use, CO2 emissions, and operating costs than the competition and an impressive 40 per cent lower noise footprint than the jets it will replace.

Engine supplier General Electric was the first partner announced on the project. The GE9X engine will be the most advanced, fuel-efficient commercial engine ever – 5 per cent more efficient than anything in its class.

The fourth-generation composite wing also contributes to efficiency. A simple, folding raked wing tip and optimised wingspan of more than 72m deliver greater efficiency and significant fuel savings with complete airport compatibility.

At a press conference at Boeing's Everett factory in Seattle on June 26, Brad Till, Boeing Commercial Airplanes' product marketing director announced that, as of May, Boeing had received over 2,200 orders for all versions of its 777X family, including 481 for the 777X and 837 for the 777-300ER models.

Confronting its safety challenges head-on, aircraft manufacturer Boeing has insisted that its planes are getting safer.

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing has committed to goals for global aerospace safety, innovation, diversity, and community engagement.