The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will maintain its enhanced oversight of Boeing after a recent door panel incident, which exposed serious safety issues at the US planemaker. The FAA’s outgoing head, Mike Whitaker, said that the agency’s tougher oversight is “here to stay” and will require a “fundamental cultural shift” at Boeing, prioritizing safety and quality above profits.
Whitaker announced new measures to ensure compliance, including an unprecedented number of unannounced audits, monthly status reviews with Boeing executives, and a new safety and quality improvement plan. The FAA praised Boeing for waiting a month after a machinists strike to restart 737 production, ensuring the safety of its aircraft.
Boeing has implemented new random quality audits and reduced defects in 737 fuselage assembly at supplier Spirit AeroSystems. However, the company still faces scrutiny from regulators, including a rejected plea deal for fraud related to two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019. The FAA’s oversight will continue under the new leadership of Sean Duffy, Trump’s nominee to head the Transportation Department.
The move comes after the January 2024 incident where a door panel flew off a Boeing 737 MAX 9 during flight, prompting the FAA to cap production at 38 planes per month and temporarily ground 170 aircraft. The incident led to significant changes in Boeing’s safety culture and a renewed focus on prioritizing safety over profits.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-faa-will-maintain-enhanced-oversight-boeing-after-door-panel-incident-2025-01-03