FAA Plans Scenario-Based Review With Boeing Before Considering 737 MAX Production Increase

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will conduct scenario-based planning exercises with Boeing before deciding whether to lift the current production cap on the 737 MAX, officials confirmed Tuesday.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told Reuters that the agency intends to use tabletop exercises to evaluate potential issues Boeing may face if production rates rise above the current ceiling of 38 aircraft per month. The goal, Bedford said, is to ensure Boeing continues to maintain improvements in safety and quality as it looks to stabilize its supply chain and manufacturing systems.

“They still haven’t asked us to increase the rate, and we haven’t agreed to do anything,” Bedford said on the sidelines of an event at Philadelphia International Airport. “We agreed that it would make sense to start to develop the process by which we would entertain a rate increase conversation.”

Bedford noted the FAA hopes to complete the exercises by the end of September. “Then if they want to ask us for an increase, at least we’ll have a roadmap on how we can evaluate it,” he added.

Oversight After Mid-Air Incident

The FAA imposed the unprecedented production cap earlier this year following a January 2024 mid-air emergency involving an Alaska Airlines 737-9, which was found to be missing four critical bolts. In the aftermath, the agency introduced strict in-person oversight of Boeing’s manufacturing and quality control systems.

Since then, Boeing has introduced a range of corrective measures, including changes to quality inspections and factory processes. Bedford acknowledged progress, noting “a lot of enhancements and changes in the processes they have implemented in terms of quality control.” However, he also highlighted ongoing concerns with “traveled work”—tasks completed later in the production process than originally scheduled.

“In general, good news, cautiously optimistic, but there’s still work to be done,” Bedford said.

Boeing’s Position

Boeing did not immediately comment on the FAA’s latest statements. CEO Kelly Ortberg previously said in May that the company was “pretty confident” it could eventually raise 737 MAX production to 42 jets per month.

Bedford visited Boeing’s Renton, Washington, factory on August 15, where he met with Ortberg, toured the production line, and reviewed Boeing’s safety and supply chain initiatives.

The FAA also recently extended by three years a program that allows Boeing to perform certain regulatory functions on the agency’s behalf, such as inspections. While the standard renewal period is five years, officials said the shorter extension reflects ongoing caution.

Next Steps

The scenario-based exercises are expected to play a central role in determining whether Boeing is ready to scale up production of its best-selling narrowbody aircraft. With demand for the 737 MAX strong among airlines worldwide, increasing output is a critical priority for Boeing—but it will require the FAA’s confidence that quality and safety standards can be upheld at higher volumes.

For now, Bedford stressed that the FAA will remain vigilant. “We’re cautiously optimistic, but Boeing must continue to demonstrate consistent quality before we consider any production rate increase,” he said.


Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=boeing+737, https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/travel-health-security/

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, reuters.com