The Federal Aviation Administration will allow Boeing to resume self-certifying its 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner aircraft starting next week.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced that Boeing will regain the authority to issue airworthiness certificates for its 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner planes. This decision follows months of review where the agency determined that Boeing’s final safety checks are sufficient to ensure the aircraft are airworthy. The agency had previously stripped this authority from the manufacturer following fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. Since September, the government and the plane maker have alternated weekly turns performing safety checks. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated that because both parties have been issuing similar findings, the responsibility can now be returned to the company. While Boeing will resume self-certification, government inspectors will continue to oversee the factories to identify defects earlier in the manufacturing process. Boeing stated it will continue to work under FAA oversight to build high-quality airplanes. Additionally, the company is making progress on new models, with the 737-7 nearing completion and the 777-9 on track for its first delivery in 2027.