Boeing on course to fulfill FAA's requirement for submitting quality control improvements by due date.
In late February, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) commissioned a review of Boeing's 737 Max production line after a gaping hole opened up in a 737 Max plane in flight. According to the FAA, auditors discovered numerous instances where Boeing and the supplier of the 737 Max failed to uphold manufacturing quality control standards. The agency demanded a resolution plan from Boeing and provided them with a 90-day window.
During a Wolfe Research conference, Boeing's Chief Financial Officer, Brian West, expressed optimism about their upcoming meeting with the FAA. "We've had a lot of dialogue with the FAA," he shared. "We've had two check-ins as we were preparing the plans. The engagement is constructive. I expect next week we'll receive some good feedback." FAA Administrator, Mike Whitaker, echoed these sentiments, cautioning that the plan isn't the end of the process, but rather just the beginning.
Whitaker highlighted the long journey ahead to restore Boeing's reputation in the industry. "It's going to be a lengthy road before they're back to manufacturing safe aircraft," he mentioned in an interview on ABC News.
West concurred, adding that the company's safety-centric efforts are concentrated on three areas: Training, simplifying work instructions, and tools. His goal is to ensure that mechanics are thoroughly prepared for their tasks.
"Our aim is to guarantee that the mechanic is suitably equipped to perform the intended task at hand," West disclosed.
Additionally, West addressed the concerns from airline executives regarding Boeing's quality and the production delays due to the ongoing challenges. "We've undoubtedly upset and dissatisfied our customers because of the production issues we face," he admitted, though he urged them to focus on the current steps being taken to improve the situation.
Regarding the planned purchase of key supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, West reiterated their commitment to the deal. "We're still moving forward with the acquisition of Spirit," he confirmed. "Spirit is currently working to sort out how they'd handle work they do for other clients like Boeing's biggest rival, Airbus."
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Source: edition.cnn.com
