Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg held a significant meeting this week with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as the aerospace giant navigates a challenging period marked by regulatory scrutiny and safety issues. An FAA official confirmed the meeting, which focused on Boeing’s safety and quality improvement plans.
Ortberg, who assumed the CEO role on August 8, updated employees on the discussions in an email sent on Friday. This includes encouraging employees to voice concerns about potential issues and mobilizing the necessary resources to address them effectively.
The meeting with FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker comes in the wake of a regulatory setback for Boeing. In January, Whitaker imposed restrictions on the production of the 737 MAX following an incident where a door panel blew out during a January 5 flight of a new Alaska Airlines jet. This incident raised concerns about the production and quality control processes for Boeing’s best-selling aircraft.
Whitaker had previously indicated plans to visit Boeing’s Seattle headquarters in September to discuss the company’s quality efforts further. He has also announced that the FAA will maintain an increased on-site presence at both Boeing and its fuselage supplier, Spirit Aerosystems, to ensure ongoing compliance and oversight.
In addition to the FAA meetings, Ortberg recently conducted his first board meeting and engaged with Pentagon officials. Boeing is also contending with ongoing labor negotiations, adding to the company’s current challenges.
As Boeing works to address these regulatory and operational hurdles, the company’s focus remains on enhancing safety and quality standards while navigating a complex regulatory environment.
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