FAA Gives Boeing ‘Limited Authority' To Certify 737 And 787 Planes

Core Points - The FAA has reauthorized Boeing to issue limited airworthiness certificates for its 737 and 787 aircraft, restoring some of Boeing's designee authority which had been suspended due to safety management system failures [2][4] - The FAA's decision is a cautious step to ease oversight restrictions, which is crucial for Boeing's recovery [4] - Boeing has faced increased oversight and a mandated production cap of 38 737 aircraft per month, while aiming to increase production to 42 aircraft per month [3][11] Oversight and Delegation - Delegated authority allows manufacturers to approve compliance steps through Organization Designation Authorization (ODA), and Boeing's loss of this privilege highlighted issues in its safety management systems [5] - The FAA's increased oversight followed a six-week audit that revealed a lack of safety culture at Boeing's facilities [6] Cultural and Quality Reforms - Boeing's CEO has emphasized the need for a cultural and operational reset, focusing on closer leadership engagement with production teams [7][8] - The company has implemented a safety and quality plan with key performance indicators to track production stability, which the FAA is also monitoring [10] Future Outlook - Regaining limited designee authority is critical for Boeing to restore credibility with global regulators and ease delivery bottlenecks, as the company aims to increase production rates [11] - The FAA will continue to monitor Boeing closely, and the company must demonstrate sustained cultural and operational changes for full confidence to be restored [12]