Quality Assurance at Boeing Under Criticism: FAA Unveils Deficiencies

Following a disturbing incident involving a nearly new Boeing 737-9 Max in January, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) discovered significant deficiencies in Boeing's quality control processes. A fuselage part of the affected Alaska Airlines aircraft detached during flight, although fortunately no serious injuries were reported as the directly adjacent seats were unoccupied. Investigations revealed that the component was missing fastening bolts. FAA inquiries revealed errors in production supervision, the handling of components, and the final product inspection. These latest findings come after already known production issues at the supplier Spirit Aerosystems, which forced Boeing to undertake several months of corrective action and production halts for the 737 type. Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA have targeted Boeing as well as Spirit Aerosystems for further investigation. In addition, a panel of experts convened by the FAA discovered inconsistencies in Boeing's system for internally reporting quality issues. Boeing's Commercial Airplanes division lacked transparent and consistent structures in this regard. Despite these challenges, Boeing was pleased to receive a vote of confidence from American Airlines. The carrier placed a large order totaling 260 aircraft, including 85 units of the controversial Boeing 737-10 Max model. This decision comes as a surprise, since an exact date for the aircraft's certification is still pending. Originally, 30 of the orders were for the smaller model, the 737-8 Max. Additionally, American Airlines committed to 85 units of the Airbus A321neo and 90 regional jets from Embraer, the E175 model, making the order a significant event for the aviation industry.