The US Civil Aviation Regulatory Authority (FAA) announced on Friday that it had authorized Boeing to intensify production of its flagship model, the 737 Max, a new positive sign for the aircraft manufacturer. Boeing will now be able to produce this single-aisle plane at a rate of 42 units per month, up from 38 previously, according to a source close to the matter.
“Our direct monitoring of Boeing production processes […] “It has not changed,” the FAA added. His personnel dedicated to safety, “including Boeing inspectors, continue to work” despite the budget paralysis that has affected the United States since the beginning of October, he assured.
The agency set the limit at 38 in January 2024, following an incident aboard an Alaska Airlines plane during a flight during which a door detached from the fuselage of a 737 Max 9, causing only some minor injuries. An upward revision of this quota represents a new breath of fresh air for Boeing, whose financial results largely depend on its deliveries. The company has suffered losses for the last six years.
Two accidents in 2018 and 2019
After the fatal accidents of two 737 Max 8s in 2018 and 2019, which caused a total of 346 victims, the models of this single-aisle family were grounded for a long time by the FAA and deliveries were suspended. Congress launched an investigation during which the US regulator was criticized for its too close relations with the company.
On Friday, a Boeing spokesperson said the company will work with its suppliers “to ramp up production in a disciplined manner,” ensuring that “safety and quality” will be prioritized. Since late September, the FAA has also authorized the manufacturer to certify some 737 Max aircraft itself, for the first time since 2019.
Source: BFM TV
