Ever since a door plug flew off an Alaska Airlines plane manufactured by Boeing this January, the company has been under scrutiny. Now, it has created a plan to improve safety going forward.
Michael Whitaker of the Federal Aviation Administration announced during a Thursday press conference that: “Boeing provided us their roadmap for continuous improvement,” in response to a February request.
“We just wrapped up a three-hour meeting to review it and talk about future implementation,” he added. Boeing’s plan includes “six key performance metrics,” the administrator said.
After the Alaska Airlines incident, the FAA put a cap on new 737 Max planes in place. In the following months, there have also been more incidents reported related to Boeing aircraft, including two incidents reported just this month.
There have been investigations into the company, and multiple whistleblowers who revealed information about Boeing have turned up dead. In March, Audacy reported that Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun was resigning.
During the press conference this week, Whitaker said that the FAA made it clear to Calhoun and other Boeing officials that the development of the plan does not mark the end of oversight of the company. In fact, the plan ushers in a new era.
“This is a guide for a new way for Boeing to do business,” Whitaker explained. He also said the administration is dedicated to making sure Boeing makes lasting changes.
“Bottom line – will continue to make sure that every airplane that comes off the line is safe and reliable,” he told reporters. Whitaker also said there’s a lot of work to be done now that the plan is in place, and that the FAA has its own plan to monitor Boeing’s plan.
While he said that Boeing would be publishing the details of the plan, he did offer some previews of what is included. Boeing will need to establish a mandatory safety management system that Whitaker described as “a structured, repeatable, systematic approach to identify hazards and manage risk.”
Additionally, the company will increase employee training, strengthen an existing anonymous reporting system, increase supplier oversight and incorporate more input for everyone in the system, including pilots. At Boeing facilities, more safety inspectors will be on hand.
“I think the flying public should feel that we’re increasing our oversight to an appropriate level with Boeing,” said Whitaker.
Boeing also released an update on its efforts to improve aircraft safety last week.
“We are entrusted with the safety of all those who fly on, use, operate and maintain our products. Our actions are focused on making further improvements to ensure safety, compliance and conformance of our products and services, without compromise,” said Mike Delaney, Boeing Chief Aerospace Safety Officer. “Our commitment is to never forget our responsibility to make sure every action and decision bring lasting improvements to the safety and quality of our products and services.”