FAA Yet to Decide on Boeing 737 MAX Production Cap

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not made a decision on whether to lift the current Boeing 737 MAX production cap, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said on Monday, September 8. The cap, set at 38 aircraft per month, has been in place since early 2024 following a mid-air emergency involving an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 that was delivered with missing bolts.

Speaking to reporters after an event in Washington, Bedford emphasized that while Boeing has made progress, the pace of improvement must align with the FAA’s rigorous oversight. “Progress is being made. It may not be as fast as Boeing would like, but it is as fast as we can reasonably move through the process,” he said.

The FAA imposed the unprecedented cap alongside enhanced in-person oversight of Boeing’s production lines. Bedford noted that his decision will ultimately be driven by data and recommendations from front-line FAA inspectors. “None of those recommendations have come up yet. That tells me the work is still ongoing,” he explained.

Before any approval, the FAA plans to conduct scenario-based “tabletop exercises” with Boeing to ensure readiness. Boeing declined further comment, referring instead to CEO Kelly Ortberg’s July statement: “We expect to be in a position to request approval from the FAA in the coming months to increase to 42 aircraft per month,” Ortberg said, highlighting steady progress in performance indicators.

Bedford also acknowledged broader challenges for the FAA, which is overseeing Boeing while simultaneously pursuing a $12.5 billion overhaul of the U.S. air traffic control system, developing new drone and supersonic aircraft regulations, and modernizing certification standards. He stressed that the agency is “stretched thin” and pointed to frequent small-scale failures in the current air traffic system, from broken circuits to telecom outages, underscoring the need for reform.


Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=FAA, https://airguide.info/?s=Boeing+737

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