The FAA announced Wednesday that is bolstering its oversight of Boeing and examining potential system change.
After deciding to ground 171 Boeing 737-9 MAX airplanes in the wake of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282’s door plug failure on Jan. 5, the FAA said it’s turning the investigation towards Boeing’s manufacturing practices and production lines, including those of subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems.
On Friday, the FAA announced requirements for a rigorous inspection and maintenance process as a new and necessary step before it contemplates taking the steps needed to return Boeing 737-9 MAXs to service.
The FAA said it has completed the first 40 inspections as part of that process and will now be reviewing the data from them.
“All 737-9 MAX aircraft with door plugs will remain grounded pending the FAA’s review and final approval of an inspection and maintenance process that satisfies all FAA safety requirements.
“Once the FAA approves an inspection and maintenance process, it will be required on every grounded 737-9 MAX prior to future operation. The safety of the flying public, not speed, will determine the timeline for returning these aircraft to service,” the FAA said.
For its part, Boeing has named Kirkland H. Donald to lead a team of outside experts that will conduct a thorough assessment of Boeing's quality management system for commercial airplanes, the company announced Tuesday.
The move followed an announcement Monday by Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stan Deal to its employees about “immediate actions the company is taking to bolster quality assurance and controls in 737 production.”
