The Federal Aviation Administration grants Boeing the authority to consistently issue airworthiness certificates for its 737 MAX and 787 aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration has officially returned the authority to issue airworthiness certificates for the Boeing 737 MAX and 787 aircraft to the manufacturer. This privilege was previously stripped in 2019 and 2022 following several safety crises, including two fatal 737 MAX crashes and a 2024 door plug incident. The administration announced that the decision follows a period of alternating weekly certifications, during which the agency found no significant difference in production quality between Boeing-issued and FAA-issued certificates. By delegating this responsibility back to the company, the FAA aims to improve delivery efficiency while maintaining rigorous oversight of the production process. Boeing leaders, including Chris Payne and Terry Beezhold, reported significant progress on upcoming models. The 737-7 is nearing completion with 95% of deliverables finished, while the 777-9 is on track for its first delivery in 2027. The company stated it will continue to work under FAA oversight to ensure high-quality commercial airplanes.