FAA: Boeing 737 MAX Production Growth Hinges on Safety Metrics and Quality Controls

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) emphasized on Tuesday that Boeing must meet stringent safety and quality standards before the agency will lift its production cap on the 737 MAX. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker stressed the need for Boeing to fully execute its safety turnaround plan during discussions with the company’s new CEO, Kelly Ortberg.

Whitaker noted that while Boeing has submitted comprehensive plans before, the key now is ensuring these plans are properly implemented. “We’ve capped production, and the first conversation I had with the new CEO was about ensuring safety metrics are where they need to be before production can increase,” Whitaker said at an industry conference.

In February, following a January in-flight emergency involving a Boeing 737 MAX 9 operated by Alaska Airlines, Whitaker capped production at 38 planes per month and mandated in-person oversight at Boeing facilities. Boeing delivered a quality control plan in May, and Whitaker plans to hold quarterly meetings with Ortberg, starting in September, to monitor progress.

In addition to FAA scrutiny, the Justice Department is also overseeing Boeing’s compliance, following the company’s agreement to plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge in July and pay $243.6 million in fines.

Ortberg, who took over as Boeing CEO on August 8, has promised a cultural shift within the company, empowering employees to address potential safety issues and ensuring the right resources are deployed to resolve them.