The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) wants Boeing to make safety improvements and ensure quality before it allows more 737 MAX planes to be made.
After a problem on an Alaska Airlines flight in January, the FAA stopped Boeing from increasing production.
The head of the FAA, Mike Whitaker, says Boeing needs to focus on safety more and deal with quality problems. He says Boeing hasn’t started talking about increasing production, and they’ll only let it happen when Boeing proves they are making safe planes.
Whitaker says the FAA has the power to make Boeing follow safety rules and will use it. Boeing can make up to 38 planes each month, but they’re not making that many right now.
FAA emphasizes Boeing’s need for safety culture (Via Steve Parker/Getty Images)
The company’s finance boss, Brian West, thinks they’ll start making more later this year if the FAA says it’s okay.
Whitaker says when Boeing will be allowed to make more planes depends on them making safety improvements. The Justice Department is looking into the problem on the Alaska Airlines flight.
Whitaker says Boeing has 90 days to come up with a plan to fix quality problems. He says Boeing needs to change how it thinks about safety in the long term.
Whitaker talked to the CEO of United Airlines about recent safety problems, like a part coming off one of their planes. United Airlines is checking its safety measures and will change training based on recent problems.
The FAA will keep an eye on Boeing and work with airlines to make sure flying is safe for passengers.
