FAA Stresses ‘Long Road’ Ahead for Boeing to Ensure Aircraft Safety
Boeing is on a “long road” to resolving safety concerns, according to FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker, as the company faces intense scrutiny following a series of safety incidents. The urgency for Boeing to address these issues was underscored by a recent incident where a door panel detached from a new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 during flight, prompting an emergency landing. This incident occurred on January 5, exposing passengers to a significant risk while flying 16,000 feet above the ground.
In response to this and other safety concerns, the FAA has given Boeing a 90-day deadline, concluding next week, to develop a comprehensive plan to tackle “systemic quality-control issues.” This directive also includes a prohibition against increasing production rates for the 737 MAX until these concerns are adequately addressed.
“This 90-day plan is not the end of the process. It’s the beginning and it’s going to be a long road to get Boeing back to where they need to be making safe airplanes,” Whitaker stated in an interview with ABC News. He emphasized the necessity for a holistic approach, involving improvements in safety systems, factory quality control, and corporate culture to ensure that employees feel empowered to report safety concerns.
The FAA’s audit revealed significant issues, and the National Transportation Safety Board reported that the aircraft involved in the January incident was missing four critical bolts. Furthermore, Boeing has acknowledged that the necessary documentation for the doors might not have been created during production, adding to the gravity of the oversight.
An all-day meeting between Whitaker and Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun was held in February to discuss these issues, with additional meetings scheduled for the coming week. These discussions are part of ongoing efforts to oversee Boeing’s commitment to safety enhancements.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department continues its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the door detachment incident. Calhoun, who announced plans to step down later this year, has committed to developing “a comprehensive action plan with measurable criteria that demonstrates the profound change that Administrator Whitaker and the FAA demand.”
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also weighed in, noting that while Boeing has made promising statements and taken some positive steps, the real test will be the visible improvements in the quality of aircraft production. “We need to make sure that we see it on the shop floor, that we see it in terms of the quality of the product that rolls off the line,” Buttigieg told Yahoo Finance.
As Boeing navigates these challenges, the company’s path to restoring trust and safety in its aircraft manufacturing processes is clearly defined but remains demanding and critical for the future of its operations.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, theguardian.com