The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it plans to conduct scenario-based planning exercises with Boeing before considering lifting the manufacturing cap of 38 aircraft per month imposed on the 737 MAX.
A Preliminary Step Before Any Decision
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford explained that these exercises—known as tabletop exercises—aim to anticipate potential complications the manufacturer might face when increasing its production rate. The primary goal is to ensure that Boeing maintains the progress achieved in quality.
“They haven’t yet requested a rate increase, and we haven’t agreed to anything. What we did agree on is that it makes sense to start developing the process through which we would consider having a conversation about that increase,” Bedford told Reuters during an event at Philadelphia Airport.
The official detailed that he expects to conclude these trials, still in the preparation phase, by the end of September. “That way, if they request an increase, we will at least have a roadmap for how to evaluate it,” he emphasized.
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Background: The Accident That Led to a Production Cap
The FAA imposed the production limit following the emergency in January 2024 during an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 flight, an incident in which four critical bolts were missing from the aircraft’s structure. Since then, the regulator has maintained intensive on-site oversight at Boeing’s assembly lines.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg stated in May that the company feels “fairly confident” in its ability to increase production of its flagship model to 42 units per month.
In August, Bedford visited the Renton, Washington plant where the 737 MAX is produced. During the visit, he met with Ortberg, received reports on safety and quality initiatives, supply chain stability, and toured the assembly line.
Program Extensions and Quality Control Improvements
In May, the FAA extended by three years—instead of the usual five—the program that authorizes Boeing to perform certain tasks on behalf of the agency, such as specific inspections.
Bedford acknowledged that the company has introduced multiple improvements in its internal control processes, though he warned that problems persist with so-called traveled work, i.e., work completed at stages later than originally planned.
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