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US senator wants FAA to perform comprehensive review into Boeing oversight

The chair of the Senate Commerce Committee wants the Federal Air travel Administration to carry out a thorough evaluation into its oversight of Boeing and other makers, raising severe questions about the federal government's scrutiny of the planemaker.

While the FAA has rightly concentrated on Boeing's production quality imperfections, I am concerned about whether FAA action-- or inaction-- added to Boeing's issues, Senator Maria Cantwell said in a letter first reported to FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker.

She said the FAA in April revealed that it had actually conducted a. combined total of 298 audits of Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems. over the prior two years that did not result in any. enforcement actions.

The FAA and Boeing did not immediately comment.

Cantwell said in her letter dated Saturday a source. analysis would ensure both Boeing and FAA have actually discovered the. core reasons for problems, rather than simply signs. She desires. the analysis to recognize any shortages in its own oversight. of Boeing and other makers and to establish restorative. actions and a prepare for executing them.

After a Jan. 5 mid-air emergency situation involving a new Alaska. Airline companies 737 MAX 9 that lost a door plug at 16,000 feet,. the FAA performed a 737 MAX production audit into Boeing opens. supplier Spirit and discovered multiple instances where the companies. had actually failed to abide by manufacturing quality assurance. requirements.

Last month, Whitaker said at a Senate Commerce hearing that. the FAA was too hands off in oversight of Boeing before. January. The FAA ought to have had better exposure into. what was happening at Boeing before Jan. 5, Whitaker said.

The FAA's approach before the mid-air incident was too. concentrated on documents audits and not focused enough on. assessments, Whitaker added. We will utilize the full degree. of our enforcement authority to ensure Boeing is held. accountable for any noncompliance.

Whitaker in February barred Boeing from enhancing production. of its very popular airplane. Whitaker likewise said the agency will. continue increased on-site presence at Boeing and Spirit for the. foreseeable future.

The National Transportation Safety Board said previously the. door panel that flew off a Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet mid-flight was. missing out on 4 crucial bolts and no documents exists for the removal. of those bolts. Whitaker verified no documentation exists.

(source: Reuters)