FAA Extends Enhanced Oversight of Boeing Indefinitely

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced it will continue its increased in-person oversight of Boeing and its key supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, indefinitely. This decision follows a series of rigorous inspections initiated after a significant in-flight incident involving a Boeing 737-9 operated by Alaska Airlines on January 5.

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker is set to confirm these plans during his upcoming testimony to the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee. According to a preview of his written statement, the FAA’s revised oversight strategy now includes “additional inspections at critical points of the production process.” This enhanced supervision, termed the “audit plus inspection” approach, reflects a permanent shift in the FAA’s methods, emphasizing active, on-site presence over previous audit-only models.

This ongoing scrutiny comes in response to the January emergency, which has prompted a broader reevaluation of Boeing’s quality control and safety culture. Whitaker’s testimony highlights the need for a cultural shift within Boeing to address systemic issues comprehensively. He stated, “There must be a shift in the company’s safety culture in order to holistically address its systemic quality assurance and production issues.”

In late February, following the directive from Whitaker, Boeing submitted a comprehensive quality improvement plan aimed at enhancing training, increasing supplier oversight, and bolstering quality controls throughout the production process. These measures are designed to ensure higher safety standards and prevent future incidents.

The FAA’s commitment includes ongoing monitoring of Boeing’s implementation efforts across various sub-teams dedicated to key areas of the improvement plan. Whitaker also confirmed that Boeing is integrating state-of-the-art technology into its tool and parts management systems to further enhance production accuracy and safety.

These stringent regulatory measures have led to a temporary halt on Boeing’s plans to increase production of the 737 MAX, with Whitaker indicating that approval for production expansion is not expected in the near term.

This extended oversight marks a significant step by the FAA to ensure that Boeing adopts and maintains rigorous safety standards, reflecting the agency’s priority to uphold aviation safety and restore public confidence in the aerospace manufacturer.