FAA Settles with Boeing to Strengthen Maintenance and Certification Processes

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reached a settlement with Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) that resolves several ongoing and potential enforcement actions.

Under the agreement, BCA will strengthen its certification, design, production and maintenance planning processes to reinforce the airworthiness and ongoing compliance of all its aircraft.

FAA Administrator Michael Huerta explained, “Compliance requires all certificate holders to develop and implement robust internal controls that uphold the highest industry standards. Boeing has committed to substantial improvements in its design, planning, production and maintenance processes and has already begun implementing several key changes.”

BCA’s obligations set clear performance targets designed to accelerate the detection and self‑reporting of regulatory gaps and to ensure timely corrective actions. The company must also make an immediate $12 million payment to the U.S. Treasury and faces penalties if it fails to meet its commitments.

Key elements of the agreement include: enhanced management oversight and accountability; rigorous internal auditing; tighter supplier management; accelerated and accurate regulatory submissions; streamlined specifications; and precise stamping and verification records.

Should BCA fail to fulfill its obligations, it could incur up to $24 million in additional penalties over the next five years.

The performance period commences on January 1, 2016, and will continue for five years unless the FAA and BCA agree to an extension.

The settlement resolves two initiated cases—one concerning delays in providing data for fuel‑tank flammability‑reduction equipment on the 747 and 757, and another related to insufficient corrective action after a supplier delivered incorrectly shaped fasteners—and 11 other matters opened in recent years. The FAA noted that these issues did not create unsafe conditions.

Additional uninitiated matters involved delays in submitting required safety data, production‑quality control issues, and failures to implement corrective actions.

For more information, visit www.faa.gov.