Summary

  • The FAA has expressed that Boeing has a long way to go to improve its safety and quality culture.
  • The manufacturer’s quality and safety processes have been under intense scrutinity following a mid-air door plug blowout in January 2024.
  • Boeing outlined steps it had taken 45 days after the incident during the company’s annual shareholders meeting.

Mike Whitaker, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), admitted that Boeing is facing a long road to fix the safety culture within the company, which has come under extensive scrutiny following the Alaska Airlines mid-air door plug blowout.

Beginning of a process

Speaking to ABC News, as reported by Reuters, Whitaker stated that Boeing’s plan to address safety and quality issues, which the FAA mandated to be delivered 90 days after February 28, 2024, will only be the beginning of the process.

The company was facing a long road to get back where they needed to be to make safe aircraft, added Whitaker, continuing that the plan would have to bring the manufacturer’s safety system where it needed to be. However, the FAA’s Administrator also pointed out that the culture within Boeing needs to be open, enabling employees to speak up when they see something concerning.

New aircraft during tests at the airport. Boeing Factory

Photo: vladdon | Shutterstock

When the FAA provided the 90-day deadline, David Calhoun, the President and chief executive officer (CEO) of Boeing, stated that following its quality stand-downs, an FAA audit, and a recent expert review panel report, the company had a clear picture of the changes that were needed.

“Transparency prevailed in all of these discussions. Boeing will develop the comprehensive action plan with measurable criteria that demonstrates the profound change that Administrator Whitaker and the FAA demand.”

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Staying as a board member

While Boeing announced significant changes to its C-level leadership at the company, as well as at Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA), Calhoun would not depart the company when his tenure as president and CEO ends at the end of 2024.

The company’s shareholders approved the motion to elect Calhoun to the Board of Directors, along with ten other directors, including Steve Mollenkopf, who was appointed chair of the board on March 25. The annual meeting happened on May 17.

Stan Deal and Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum shake hands after announcing a Boeing 787 deal

Photo: Tom Boon | Simple Flying

Then, Boeing announced Calhoun’s departure from his current role and the immediate retirement of Stan Deal, the now-former CEO of BCA. Deal was replaced by Stephanie Pope, who previously worked as the chief operating officer (COO) of Boeing. Lastly, Larry Kellner informed the board that he would not be up for reelection during the aforementioned annual meeting of Boeing’s shareholders.

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Reacting to the Alaska Airlines incident

During the same shareholders meeting, Boeing shared the steps it had taken during the first 45 days after the Alaska Airlines flight AS1282 incident when a Boeing 737 MAX 9 mid-cabin door plug blew off the aircraft in January 2024.

Multiple Boeing 737 fuselages sitting on a train.

Photo: Ian Dewar Photography | Shutterstock

The immediate steps included additional checks of the manufacturing process of the Boeing 737, appointing an independent safety and quality leader to assess its quality processes, mandating additional quality and safety-focused sessions, and deploying its employees to work alongside Spirit AeroSystems at the latter’s Wichita, Kansas, facilities.

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