FAA needs to ensure adequate safety metrics before Boeing 737 MAX production can grow, FAA says

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday the agency must ensure the planemaker's safety processes are adequate before it will lift its 737 MAX production cap.

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said he raised the issue with Boeing's new chief executive Kelly Ortberg and wants to ensure the planemaker follows through on its quality turnaround plan.

"There have been comprehensive plans before, so I think the goal now is we really need to make sure that that's executed," Whitaker said at an industry conference. "We've capped production -- that was my first conversation with the new CEO. We need to make sure the safety metrics are exactly where they need to be to grow."

Whitaker in late February gave Boeing 90 days to develop a comprehensive plan to address "systemic quality-control issues" after the Jan. 5 Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 in-flight emergency. Whitaker after the incident took the unprecedented action of capping Boeing's 737 MAX production at 38 airplanes per month and has ramped up in-person oversight.

Boeing delivered the quality plan on May 30. Whitaker said he would hold quarterly meetings with Boeing's CEO starting in September in Seattle. Whitaker said Tuesday he plans to soon hold that meeting.

Whitaker also noted the Justice Department has taken an interest in Boeing "so they're also implementing monitoring protocols." Boeing in July agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge and pay at least $243.6 million.

Ortberg, who took over on Aug. 8 as CEO, said in an employee email last month after a meeting with Whitaker of the company's "focus on true culture change, empowering employees to speak up when they see potential issues and bringing the right resources together to solve them."

(Reporting by David Shepardson)