FAA to Allow Boeing to Issue Airworthiness Certificates for Some 737 MAX and 787 Again
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will allow Boeing to resume issuing airworthiness certificates for certain 737 MAX and 787 aircraft starting next week. The agency had revoked this authority in 2019, following the second fatal MAX crash in Ethiopia, and subsequently in 2022 due to quality control issues in 787 production.
New Shared Certification Scheme
According to the FAA, both the agency and the manufacturer will issue airworthiness certificates on alternating weeks starting September 29. While this measure will not result in an increase in deliveries, it does represent official recognition of Boeing’s progress in safety and quality.
“The FAA will only allow this step because we are confident it can be done safely,” the agency stated.
→ Boeing Accelerates Deliveries in August: 57 Aircraft
Strict Oversight Remains
The FAA emphasized that this decision was made after a comprehensive review of Boeing’s production processes. According to the statement, this change will allow federal inspectors to focus on critical areas of the manufacturing chain. “The FAA will continue to maintain direct and rigorous oversight of Boeing’s production processes,” the authority added.
Production Limits and Recent Sanctions
In January 2024, the FAA imposed a production limit of 38 units per month for the 737 MAX, following the mid-flight incident involving an Alaska Airlines aircraft that was missing four bolts on a door plug. The agency clarified that Boeing has not requested an increase in this production rate. Should it do so, FAA safety inspectors would need to conduct extensive planning and review with the company before approving any change.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford explained to Reuters that any adjustments to production would be guided by recommendations from frontline inspectors.
Furthermore, in early September, the FAA proposed a $3.1 million fine against Boeing for a series of safety violations. The authority found hundreds of quality system infractions at both the Renton (Washington) plant, where the 737 is assembled, and at the Spirit AeroSystems fuselage factory in Wichita (Kansas), between September 2023 and February 2024. Boeing even presented two non-airworthy aircraft for approval.
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