The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced what it terms ‘new and significant actions to immediately increase its oversight of Boeing production and manufacturing’. This comes a day after the FAA formally notified the aircraft manufacturer of an investigation into its ‘alleged noncompliance’ regarding 737-9 MAX component issues.
As part of these actions, the FAA will conduct an independent third-party audit of the 737-9 MAX production line and its suppliers ‘to evaluate Boeing’s compliance with its approved quality procedures’. The results of this audit analysis will determine whether additional audits are necessary.
“It is time to re-examine the delegation of authority and assess any associated safety risks,” said FAA administrator Mike Whitaker, adding that “the grounding of the 737-9 and the multiple production-related issues identified in recent years require [the FAA] to look at every option to reduce risk”.
As well as assessing safety risks around delegated authority and quality oversight, with examination of options to move these functions under independent third-party entities, the FAA will also implement increased monitoring of 737-9 MAX in-service events.
Yesterday, in a letter to the American manufacturing giant ‘concerning an in-service incident on a Boeing Model 737-9 MAX aircraft,’ the FAA explained: ‘The above-described circumstances indicate that Boeing may have failed to ensure its completed products conformed to its approved designs and were in a condition for safe operation in accordance with contract or regulatory requirements’.
The manufacturer’s BCA Quality Manual (dated June 26, 2023) states that “appropriate inspection and test activities are conducted… post-delivery activities are conducted in accordance with contract or regulatory requirements”.
The FAA added that Boeing has 10 days to provide any relevant evidence or statements pertaining to the ongoing investigation. Earlier this week, Boeing CEO David Calhoun said that his company would "approach [the situation] with 100% and complete transparency every step of the way".