The United States’ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is unlikely to allow Boeing to step up manufacturing of its 737 Max for months, according to agency administrator, Mike Whitaker.
No increases in production have been permitted since January 2024, when the plane was grounded, the second time the Max series had been grounded after fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. The manufacturer has been dogged by civil lawsuits and criminal investigations, as well as by whistleblower claims of rushed safety checks and shortcuts amid a race to get planes to market.
With what was meant to be one of its bestselling planes seriously compromised, the maker has issued financial warnings such as that from Chief Financial Officer Brian West on 23 May. He noted the company will need to plunder its cash resources to the tune of $4 billion this quarter alone, instead of making profits.
A key part of getting Boeing back on track was approval of an improvement plan it has been asked to submit to the FAA. The maker’s top team, including outgoing CEO Dave Calhoun, met with Whitaker for three hours last week to present its strategies for staff training and factory processes. But Whitaker, it seems, was in no mood to take a quick decision.
“This plan does not mark the end of our increased oversight of Boeing and its suppliers,” he said. “Regardless of how many planes Boeing builds, we need to see a strong and unwavering commitment to safety and quality that endures over time. This is about systemic change, and there’s a lot of work to be done.”
The regulator “will not approve production increases beyond the current cap until we’re satisfied,” he said, noting that it could take several months and that there would not be a set timeframe for lifting the production limits. The onus is on Boeing to achieve what it has said it will. “Boeing has laid out their roadmap, and now they need to execute,” he added.
NOW: FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker says he just held an hours-long meeting with Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun on its plan to make “necessary changes” following the 737 Max 9 door plug blowout. “This is a guide for a new way for Boeing to do business.” pic.twitter.com/yzOCBy6RgV
— Pete Muntean (@petemuntean) May 30, 2024
That roadmap includes 300 hours of training material and ensuring managers spend more time on the factory floor, not in office meetings, as well as increased oversight of suppliers such as Spirit, which has struggled with Dreamliner production.
Whitaker made clear speaking to a press conference that the FAA would not be abandoning its scrutiny of the manufacturer any time soon. Weekly oversight meetings between senior FAA representatives and Boeing chiefs are set to continue.
Putting a positive spin on the arrangement, Boeing executive Stephanie Pope, said the firm is “confident in the plan that we have put forward and are committed to continuously improving. We will work under the FAA’s oversight and uphold our responsibility to the flying public to continue delivering safe, high-quality airplanes.”
