- Increased Boeing safety inspections
- FAA scrutinizes manufacturing standards
- Boeing faces regulatory challenges
The chief of the United States aviation regulator has stated that “more boots on the ground” will be utilised to increase Boeing aircraft safety inspections.
Boeing is “closely scrutinised,” according to testimony provided to US legislators by Federal Aviation Administrator Mike Whitaker on Tuesday, following the detachment of a door plug from one of its aircraft last month.
There were no serious injuries resulting from the midair explosion.
However, subsequent inspections have uncovered problems that have cast doubt on standards.
Mr. Whitaker assured a congressional committee that he would ensure Boeing was held accountable for any future FAA noncompliance or failure to comply.
Following the incident that occurred last month—a vacant door burst from an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max shortly after takeoff from Portland International Airport—his remarks were made.
Although nobody was gravely injured, had the incident transpired later in the flight, it could have been considerably more severe.
Boeing’s Safety and Oversight Concerns
In subsequent aircraft inspections, unsecured bolts and fasteners discovered on additional aircraft have called Boeing’s manufacturing standards into question.
This week, the airline manufacturer disclosed that additional flaws had been discovered in fuselage components—the aircraft’s main tube—sent to Boeing by its primary supplier, Spirit AeroSystem.
The FAA has been criticised on its own behalf for purportedly neglecting to enforce adequate oversight over Boeing.
Initial concerns arose subsequent to two calamitous incidents involving the 737 Max that transpired in late 2018 and early 2019, resulting in the loss of 346 lives.
“Regulatory capture” was the accusation levelled against the aviation regulator at the time. It was accused of permitting itself to be unduly influenced by the company it was tasked with supervising.
The door blowout that occurred last month has further brought attention to the agency’s operations.
Mr. Whitaker, testifying before the Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee of the House of Representatives, stated that inspections of Boeing 737 Max aircraft revealed “quality system issues at Boeing that were unacceptable and require further investigation.”
Also he noted that Boeing’s expansion of 737 Max production had already been thwarted. Additionally, the FAA had initiated an investigation into the company’s adherence to manufacturing regulations.
FAA’s Vigilance on Boeing Safety
Mr. Whitaker further stated that the FAA eagerly anticipated the outcomes of an all-encompassing assessment of Boeing’s safety culture that was being conducted by a commission consisting of FAA representatives, labor unions, engineering experts, and others.
He stated that the FAA would monitor the data and take action as it deemed appropriate and necessary.
Let me emphasise that our mission is to ensure the safety of the travelling public, he concluded.
In response to legislators’ inquiries, Mr. Whitaker stated that the Alaska Airlines incident had presented the regulator with two challenges.
“To begin with, what is the issue with this aircraft? The second question is, “What is Boeing doing?” He elaborated.
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They have previously encountered difficulties that do not appear to be being resolved.
He stated that the FAA had approximately twenty inspectors stationed in Boeing factories and an additional twenty-five at Spirit Aerosystems.
Nevertheless, he stated that the future of the ODA (Organisation Designation Authorisation) had not been determined. This system permits Boeing to perform some safety certification work on behalf of the regulator.
This system has been likened to Boeing “doing its own homework” in the past.
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