Boeing and American Airlines have completed the first landing gear exchange performed on a 737 MAX, extending a program that previously covered earlier Boeing platforms. Boeing announced the milestone from Plano, Texas, on September 14, 2026. American Airlines, the launch operator, is headquartered in Fort Worth.
Under the Landing Gear Exchange Program, Boeing supplies overhauled and certified main and nose landing gear assemblies along with installation kits. Wheels, tires, and brakes were excluded from the package delivered to American. The exchange validated the full process behind the program, covering technical overhaul, service bulletin incorporation, certification, documentation, and delivery.
William Ampofo, senior vice president of Parts and Distribution and Supply Chain at Boeing Global Services, said the milestone reinforces what customers have known for years, describing the capability as predictable, safe, and cost effective. He added that extending the program to the 737 MAX gives operators another proven tool to shorten downtime, manage costs, and align heavy maintenance with operational needs.
The commercial argument rests on inventory. Operators reserve a forward exchange slot rather than buying and warehousing high cost spare gear, which frees working capital, reduces aircraft on ground time, and shifts inventory and obsolescence risk to the manufacturer.
Boeing named three near term priorities for the program: enlarging the pool of 737 MAX capable exchange inventory, adding forward exchange slots positioned close to customer operations, and tracking operational metrics that quantify downtime and cost outcomes as volume grows. The company is also increasing global overhaul capacity and coordinating with certified maintenance partners to widen geographic availability and shorten lead times.
Source: AviTrader Aviation News - https://avitrader.com/2026/09/15/boeing-completes-first-american-airlines-737-max-landing-gear-exchange/