FAA Moves to Ease Oversight of Boeing 737 MAX Deliveries

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is preparing to relax some of its strict oversight of Boeing’s 737 Max program, potentially marking a turning point for the planemaker after years of intense regulatory scrutiny. According to the Wall Street Journal, the FAA plans to return part of the “ticketing authority” that allows Boeing to perform final airworthiness inspections on its 737 Max jets before delivery—a responsibility the company lost following a series of safety lapses.

Under the proposed arrangement, Boeing and FAA inspectors would alternate weeks in issuing the certifications that clear aircraft for service. This partial hand-back of authority is designed to speed up deliveries without removing the FAA from the process entirely. For now, the production cap of 38 Max jets per month is expected to remain in place, though reports suggest Boeing could later seek permission to lift the limit to 42 jets per month if it meets quality and performance targets.

The shift follows a period of heightened oversight that began after two fatal 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 and intensified in early 2024 when a midair panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737-9 exposed quality control problems and led the FAA to strip Boeing of self-certification privileges. Since then, the regulator has maintained a heavy on-site presence at Boeing’s factories and audited its manufacturing processes.

Industry analysts view the FAA’s move as a signal of renewed confidence in Boeing’s safety culture and production systems. Returning some inspection authority could help clear a backlog of undelivered aircraft and reassure airline customers that the planemaker is regaining its footing. Boeing shares rose more than 4% after the news broke, reflecting investor optimism.

Still, regulators have stressed that any further easing, including lifting the production cap, will be gradual and contingent on Boeing demonstrating sustained quality improvements. FAA inspectors will remain embedded in the process, and critics warn that handing back too much authority too soon could reignite concerns about oversight of the 737 Max program.

As of Friday Sep. 26, neither Boeing nor the FAA had publicly commented on the specifics or timing of the planned changes.


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