Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Whitaker announced
plans to meet with Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg in Seattle The FAA is preparing to
ramp up its oversight of Boeing
as the aerospace giant resumes production of its problematic 737
MAX jets after a 53-day
workers' strike ended earlier this month.
The meeting is
being set up following a previous get-together between the two men earlier this
month regarding the production plan. As manufacturing of the problematic 737
aircraft line restarts, "We are working closely with Boeing to make sure
the safety management system is driving their actions,” Whitaker said.
The FAA affirmed
that it has continued its bolstered presence on-site at Boeing manufacturing
facilities throughout the strike, "and will further strengthen and target
our oversight as the company begins its return-to-work plan," Reuters
reported.
In January,
production of the 737 MAX was restricted to 38 planes per month after a
terrifying incident in which a door panel blew out of an Alaska
Airlines 737 MAX 9 in mid-air, exposing critical safety lapses with the
planemaker. The faulty panel, which lacked four key bolts, underscored ongoing
challenges within Boeing’s safety protocols.
In October, the
FAA announced the launch of a new safety review into the company’s operations. The
same month, the Transportation Department's Office of Inspector General, reproached
the FAA for what it considered insufficient oversight of Boeing.
Whitaker also
addressed questions about his future with the FAA during a holiday travel press
briefing at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. While declining to state
whether her intends to remain FAA administrator once the incoming Trump
administration takes over on January 20, 2025, Whitaker did confirm his
commitment to ensuring continuity and safety during the transition.
"I'm looking
forward to working with the incoming (transportation) secretary," Whitaker
said. "Right now, we're focused on safety and trying to make this
transition as smooth as possible."
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