EASA has certified the Boeing 737-8200, revealing the move in an updated version of the 737 family’s type certificate data sheet published April 6.
A 737-8 with two additional Type II over-wing exits located between the wing and empennage, the newest certified MAX-family variant is approved by EASA to carry a maximum of 202 passengers and 207 total occupants, including crew members.
Ryanair, which has 210 of the higher-capacity variants on order, plans to operate them configured with 197 seats, compared to 189 in its 737-8s.
Boeing had produced 40 of them as of early December 2020—part of a backlog of more than 450 aircraft that built up during the 737 MAX’s 21-month grounding. The only other announced 737-8200 customer is VietJet, with 28, according to Aviation Week Intelligence Network Fleet and Data Services. An unannounced customer has signed up for 40 firm orders.
Boeing declined to discuss first-delivery plans and directed 737-8200 approval inquiries to EASA. The regulator declined to comment beyond referencing the updated 737 type certificate data sheet.
EASA’s validation comes six days after the FAA approved the variant. Differences in the regulators’ rules means the FAA approval is for a maximum of 212 seats.
The European regulator has pledged to evaluate new certification projects more carefully in the wake of the MAX saga. But the 737-8200’s similarity to the 737-8—the variants have the same dimensions and updated flight control computer system software as well as identical maximum taxi, takeoff, and landing weights, for instance—meant that the regulator’s additional scrutiny of the type effectively took place during its broader 737 MAX-family review.
EASA deviated from the FAA on a few issues, including a conclusion that the 737 MAX family needs an additional angle of attack (AOA) data source.
Boeing is adding a synthetic AOA data source to the 737 MAX family, starting with the 737-10, as part of its return-to-service agreement with EASA.
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