FAA Administrator: Boeing (BA.US) has not yet resumed production of the 737 Max after the strike.
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in an interview that Boeing (BA.US) has not resumed production of the 737 Max since the strike ended, and the company plans to slowly restart production later this month.Whitaker met with Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg and toured the company's 737 factory in Washington state this week. "It's been four weeks since the strike ended, and Boeing still hasn't resumed production of the 737 Max because they're focused on labor and training and making sure the supply chain issues are resolved," Whitaker said.After a new contract that would raise wages by 38% over the next four years finally won the support of Boeing's largest union in early November, ending a seven-week strike that had idled most of the company's aircraft and deepened the financial crisis at the already-troubled aircraft maker.But it will still take weeks for Boeing to restart production after the strike, a company spokesperson said previously, as the company must assess potential risks, reiterate mechanics' duties and safety requirements, and ensure all training qualifications are up to date as workers gradually return to work.The January 5 incident in which an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 experienced an in-flight emergency after a door (an embedded emergency door) on the side of the cabin came loose prompted concerns about the quality of Boeing's production. The FAA then limited production of the 737 Max to 38 planes a month, and Whitaker expects it may take months for Boeing to get close to that level.Whitaker also said Boeing may need five years to overhaul its safety culture, but the company seems to be on the right path, "I saw this week what I expected to see," he said.