FAA approval of GE9X seal fix required for 777-9 certification: official

GE Aerospace is undertaking efforts to secure regulatory authorization following a redesign implementation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stipulated that Boeing’s 777-9 aircraft will not receive formal certification until after the agency approves GE Aerospace's proposed solution. This clarification pertains specifically to a durability issue identified with the mid-seal within the GE9X turbofan powerplant, initially reported in January. An FAA spokesperson confirmed this requirement as a critical step before final validation. Consequently, the timeline for 777-9 commercial operations remains contingent on achieving FAA approval of the necessary seal modification.