China Eastern COMAC C919 B-919G on final approach to Shanghai Hongqiao

Faster Aircraft Certification: Duffy Warns ‘China Is Going to Beat Us’

by Joseph Duncan | Oct 1, 2026 | Aviation World, News | 0 comments

America's transport secretary has a new worry, and it is not a crash. It is a calendar. Speaking in Washington on 30 September, Sean Duffy said the United States must certify new airliners faster or risk losing the next generation of aviation to China.

Getting a new airliner approved by the Federal Aviation Administration now takes five years or more of testing and paperwork. Boeing's 737 MAX 7 needed more than eight years before it was finally certified in August, and the 777X is running more than five years behind its original schedule. Duffy's message: safety stays, but the pace has to change.

Quick Facts

Who: US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
When: 30 September 2026, Washington, DC
Issue: Time needed to certify new aircraft
Typical today: Five years or more for a new airliner
Examples: 737 MAX 7: more than eight years; 777X: more than five years late
FAA reform plan: Proposed in June 2026 under Administrator Bryan Bedford
Competitor cited: China

Can We Move Faster?

Duffy argued that the slow approval process discourages investment in new designs from the big manufacturers. According to Reuters, he said innovation from the major producers is not happening because certification is so hard, and that if the US cannot change its pace, China will win.

“Where's the new innovation in aviation from the big producers? It doesn't happen because it's so hard to certify. We need to make sure we have safe aviation, but can we move faster?”

Sean Duffy — US Secretary of Transportation, 30 September 2026 (via Reuters)

The comments came days after the FAA paused certification of the 737 MAX 10 while it waits for a software fix related to pilot workload during go-arounds. Duffy said he saw no current safety concern with the aircraft.

What the FAA Wants to Change

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford is already pursuing reforms. In June 2026 the agency proposed modernising certification rules by writing commonly used exemptions and special conditions directly into the regulations, reducing repetitive approval work for familiar design features and aligning more closely with Europe's EASA.

The proposals cover areas such as cabin interiors, emergency exits, fuel tank safety assessments, windshield visibility, decompression standards and thrust reverser protection. None of them removes a test outright. The idea is to stop re-proving the same well-understood features on every new design.

Folding wingtip of the Boeing 777X N779XW at its rollout — The folding wingtip of the first Boeing 777X, N779XW, at its rollout in Everett. The 777X is now more than five years behind its original certification schedule. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The China Factor

Duffy's warning is aimed at Beijing. China's COMAC C919 narrowbody has been flying passengers with China Eastern since 2023 and is being built up as a domestic alternative to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. China certifies its own jets through its own regulator, the CAAC.

The tension is obvious. The FAA's credibility took a heavy hit after the two 737 MAX 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019, and much of today's caution grew out of that. Speeding up certification without repeating those mistakes is the balancing act Duffy and Bedford now have to manage, and Congress, airlines and safety advocates will be watching every step.

Sean Duffy urges Congress to pass the Modern Skies Act on aviation reform, a separate funding push made the same week (The Economic Times).

Sources: Reuters, AeroTime, Federal Aviation Administration

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Sean Duffy want faster aircraft certification?

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on 30 September 2026 that slow certification discourages investment in new aircraft and could let China overtake the US in aviation. He said safety must be preserved but asked whether the process can move faster.

How long does it take to certify a new airliner in the US?

According to Reuters, getting a new airliner approved by the FAA typically takes five years or more of testing and documentation. Boeing's 737 MAX 7 needed more than eight years before it was certified in August 2026.

How late is the Boeing 777X?

The Boeing 777X is more than five years behind its original certification schedule, according to Reuters. Its delays have become a central example in the debate over the speed of US aircraft certification.

What certification reforms has the FAA proposed?

In June 2026 the FAA proposed writing commonly used exemptions and special conditions directly into its rules, cutting repetitive approvals for familiar design features and aligning more closely with EASA, covering areas like cabin interiors, exits and fuel tank safety.

Who leads the FAA in 2026?

Bryan Bedford is the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. He is pursuing reforms to the aircraft certification process alongside Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.