The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Thursday that Boeing submitted a plan for addressing the “systemic quality-control issues” that have plagued the company since the beginning of the year. Boeing’s safety roadmap, which was laid out for federal regulators in a three-hour closed-door meeting, outlines the company’s plans to expand auditing, quality control, and employee training.
“Over time this is about systemic change, there is a lot of work to be done,” FAA chief Mike Whitaker told reporters after the meeting. “This is a guide for a new way for Boeing to do business. Boeing has laid out their road map, and now they need to execute.”
Whitaker further confirmed that Boeing will begin making improvements to its internal auditing processes, quality control systems, and employee training programs, and will continue encouraging workers to report safety defects. However, the FAA will not be releasing the plan to the public, with Whitaker leaving that disclosure up to the company.
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According to Whitaker, Boeing’s safety plan will not immediately end the administration’s increased oversight of the company, which began in January after a Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet suffered a door plug blowout during a flight. Following multiple other incidents related to safety and quality control, the FAA began scrutinizing Boeing’s internal processes and ordered the company to submit a new safety plan within 90 days.
Even after the submission of the plan, Boeing will not be allowed to increase production on the 737 MAX 9 until the administration determines that certain unspecified metrics have been met.
Related: Boeing Faces 10 More Whistleblowers After Two Mysterious Deaths
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun, who announced his upcoming resignation shortly after the safety issues emerged, confirmed later on Thursday that certain elements of the plan have already been enacted within the company.
“It is through this continuous learning and improvement process that our industry has made commercial aviation the safest mode of transportation,” Calhoun said. “The actions we are taking today will further strengthen that foundation.”
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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