The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has acknowledged that it should have been more vigilant regarding manufacturing issues within Boeing after a panel detached from a 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker stated that the agency's approach was overly reliant on paperwork audits and lacked sufficient focus on inspections.
Following the incident on the Alaska jetliner, the FAA has implemented a more proactive and comprehensive oversight strategy towards Boeing. This includes increasing the presence of inspectors in Boeing factories and its primary supplier for the Max, Spirit AeroSystems.
Investigations by the FAA, the Justice Department, and the National Transportation Safety Board are ongoing concerning Boeing's manufacturing practices. As a result, the FAA has restricted Boeing's production of 737 Max jets to 38 per month, although the company is currently producing fewer aircraft as it addresses quality-control issues.
The incident involving the missing bolts on the door plug of the Alaska jet revealed lapses in Boeing's record-keeping and maintenance procedures. Boeing admitted to not having documentation on the removal and reinstallation of the plug, which led to the absence of crucial securing bolts.
Questions were raised about the FAA's oversight, with concerns raised about the lack of inspectors present during critical manufacturing processes at Boeing. Whitaker explained that the agency was primarily focused on auditing Boeing's internal quality programs at the time and did not have sufficient personnel on-site to monitor operations closely.
Whitaker emphasized that the FAA is actively recruiting additional air traffic controllers and safety inspectors but faces challenges in attracting talent due to competition from the aerospace industry. He noted that the agency has experienced a loss of expertise among its inspectors due to a younger workforce.
