A new report by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) found that, while the rank and file at one of the biggest aircraft makers in the world is committed to making the safest product possible, those in charge may not quite be on the same page.
“The Expert Panel observed a disconnect between Boeing’s senior management and other members of the organization on safety culture,” the report said, with interviewees from within the company criticizing Boeing’s safety reporting systems and worrying about retaliation for raising issues,” the report said, according to USA Today.
“The procedures and training are complex and in a constant state of change, creating employee confusion,” the report continued.
“The Expert Panel also found a lack of awareness of safety-related metrics at all levels of the organization.”
Reportedly, the FAA found 27 “problem areas” while including 53 advisements on how to correct the issues.
“We will continue to hold Boeing to the highest standard of safety and will work to ensure the company comprehensively addresses these recommendations,” the FAA said in a statement.
Boeing issued a statement in response to the report.
“We’ve taken important steps to foster a safety culture that empowers and encourages all employees to share their voice. But there is more work to do,” the statement read. “We will carefully review the panel’s assessment and learn from their findings, as we continue our comprehensive efforts to improve our safety and quality programs.”
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The report’s publication comes in the wake of an incident on a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operated by Alaska Airlines that saw a door plug during what was described as “explosive decompression” mid-flight. However, the Expert Panel first undertook the safety review on March 1, 2023.
Among the issues reportedly outlined in the FAA’s analysis: that many Boeing employees didn’t fully comprehend the company’s safety procedures or culture. The report suggested streamlining safety management systems and making certain terminology more widely known and used companywide.
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