FAA Chief States Boeing’s Safety Culture Reforms Could Take Years, Reports Reuters

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON – The head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) informed a U.S. House subcommittee on Tuesday that improvements in safety culture at Boeing could take between three to five years to achieve.

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker emphasized during a two-hour hearing that this initiative is not a quick fix. “It is not a six-month program – it is a three-year to five-year program,” he remarked, noting conversations with Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg and the company’s board regarding the urgent need for reforms in their safety culture.

Whitaker acknowledged that Boeing has made noteworthy short-term progress, but stressed that transforming the corporate culture will require substantial time and effort. “There is progress, but they are not where they need to be,” he stated.

Congress is conducting a series of hearings over two days to address Boeing’s safety efforts, with a Senate panel scheduled to engage in discussions on Wednesday.

In previous comments from June, Whitaker criticized the FAA for being "too hands off" in its oversight of Boeing prior to a mid-air emergency involving a new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 in January, pointing out deficiencies in past audits. Boeing is currently under investigation by both the Justice Department and the FAA concerning the Alaska incident.

Whitaker asserted that Boeing must initiate significant changes. “There has to be a culture change or they won’t be able to return to producing aircraft at the level they want,” he said, adding that Boeing intends to implement a new safety training program.

Boeing did not respond to Whitaker’s statements. The company’s shares, which have declined by 38% this year, saw a slight drop of 0.3% on Tuesday.

Whitaker noted that the FAA has permanently increased the number of in-person inspectors at Boeing and, in January, restricted the planemaker from increasing production of its top-selling 737 MAX until certain quality and safety improvements are made. He stated that this limitation "really gives us the leverage we need to make sure these changes happen."

In July, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to a charge of criminal fraud conspiracy and will pay at least $243.6 million following a breach of a prior agreement with the Justice Department in 2021. Additionally, the company has committed to allocate at least $455 million toward enhancing safety and compliance programs, which will be supervised by an independent monitor for a duration of three years.

U.S. lawmakers expressed their dissatisfaction with Boeing, especially after the loss of hundreds of lives in tragic 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019. Representative Steve Cohen remarked, “We don’t want Airbus to dominate the market, but Boeing keeps making mistakes. For the interests of America, Boeing needs to get its act together.”