By David Shepardson
ARLINGTON, Virginia (Reuters) – FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said on Thursday he plans to soon visit Boeing’s Seattle offices to meet with CEO Kelly Ortberg as the planemaker resumes 737 MAX production.
Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration said it would boost its oversight of Boeing as the planemaker prepares to resume production of its 737 MAX jets following a 53-day strike that ended two weeks ago.
“We are working closely with Boeing to make sure the safety management system is driving their actions during” the restart of production, Whitaker said, who spoke to Ortberg earlier this month on the production plan.
Boeing did not immediately comment.
The FAA noted that it maintained its enhanced on-site presence at Boeing factories throughout the strike “and will further strengthen and target our oversight as the company begins its return-to-work plan.”
Whitaker capped production at 38 737 MAX planes per month in January after a door panel missing four key bolts flew off an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 in flight that month, exposing serious safety issues at Boeing.
The FAA said in October it was opening a new safety review into Boeing. That month, the Transportation Department’s Office of Inspector General criticized the FAA’s oversight of Boeing.
At a holiday travel press conference at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, near Washington on Thursday, Whitaker did not directly answer whether he plans to remain as FAA administrator once President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20. But he said he plans to engage with the transition team. Whitaker has a five-year term that does not expire until 2028.
“I’m looking forward to working with the incoming (transportation) secretary,” Whitaker said. “Right now, we’re focused on safety and trying to make this transition as smooth as smooth as possible.”
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Jonathan Oatis)
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