The Federal Aviation Administration announced it’s proposing $3.1 million in fines against Boeing for safety violations in late 2023 and early 2024, according to a press release from the government agency on Friday.
The safety violations include an incident on January 5, 2024, when a door plug fell out of an Alaska Airlines flight traveling from Portland, Oregon. The door plug fell out of the Boeing 737 Max 9 while in flight, though thankfully nobody was hurt.
The door plug was eventually found in the backyard of a Portland schoolteacher and highlighted recent safety concerns in the wake of two deadly crashes, one in 2018 and another in 2019, that killed 346 people in total. Boeing struck a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice earlier this year to avoid criminal charges in those crashes.
The fine of just $3.1 million may not seem like much for such a large company, but the FAA touts it as the “maximum statutory civil penalty authority consistent with law.”
The FAA also notes that a Boeing employee pressured a member of the FAA’s Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) to sign off on a Boeing 737-MAX plane so that the plane manufacturer could meet its delivery schedule. The FAA has faced criticism for not being independent enough from the companies it regulates.
The FAA fine also relates to various quality control problems, as the agency explains in its press release:
The FAA identified hundreds of quality system violations at Boeing’s 737 factory in Renton, Washington, and Boeing subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems’ 737 factory in Wichita, Kansas. Additionally, Boeing presented two unairworthy aircraft to the FAA for airworthiness certificates and failed to follow its quality system.
Reached for comment over email, a Boeing spokesperson said the company regrets the door-plug accident and continues to work on “strengthening our safety culture and improving first-time quality and accountability across our operations.”
“Last year, under the oversight of the FAA, we instituted a Safety & Quality Plan with key performance indicators to enhance safety management and quality assurance in airplane production,” the statement continued. “Our team continues to implement these improvements, such as investing in workforce training, strengthening production system compliance and encouraging employees to speak up.”
Boeing has 30 days to reply to the FAA’s letter about the proposed fines. The full letter has not been made public. The agency didn’t respond to questions emailed Friday evening. Gizmodo will update this post when we hear back.
Rainmaker Technology’s bid to deploy cloud-seeding flares on small drones is being met by resistance from the airline pilots union, which has urged the Federal Aviation Administration to consider denying the startup’s request unless it meets stricter safety guidelines.
The FAA’s decision will signal how the regulator views weather modification by unmanned aerial systems going forward. Rainmaker’s bet on small drones hangs in the balance.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) told the FAA that Rainmaker’s petition “fails to demonstrate an equivalent level of safety” and poses “an extreme safety risk.”
Rainmaker is seeking an exemption from rules that bar small drones from carrying hazardous materials. The startup filed in July, and the FAA has yet to rule. Instead, it issued a follow-up request for information, pressing for specifics on operations and safety.
In its filing, Rainmaker proposed using two flare types, one “burn-in-place” and the other ejectable, on its Elijah quadcopter, to disperse particles that stimulate precipitation. Elijah has a maximum altitude of 15,000 feet MSL (measured from sea level), which sits inside controlled airspace where commercial airliners routinely fly. Drones need permission from Air Traffic Control to fly inside this bubble.
Rainmaker’s petition says it will operate in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace unless otherwise authorized. ALPA notes the filing doesn’t clearly state where flights would occur or what altitudes would be used. Rainmaker and ALPA did not reply to TechCrunch’s requests for comment.
The union also objects to the flares themselves, citing concerns about foreign object debris and fire safety. ALPA points out that the petition does not include trajectory modeling of the ejectable casings or analysis on the environmental impacts of chemical agents.
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However, Rainmaker says the flights will occur over rural areas and over properties owned by private landlords “with whom Rainmaker has developed close working relationships.”
Cloud-seeding already happens today, largely in the western U.S., with crewed airplanes flown in coordination with state agencies. Ski resorts commission the operations to help keep their runs white, and irrigation and water districts fly them to build snowpack in the winter to help feed their reservoirs during the spring melt.
The general practice of cloud seeding dates back to the 1950s. By spraying small particles into certain clouds, scientists found they could induce precipitation. Typically, cloud-seeding operations use silver iodide for the particles, mostly because they mimic the shape of ice crystals.
When a silver iodide particle bumps into droplets of water that are super-cooled, they cause the droplet to rapidly freeze because its water is already below the freezing point. Once the ice crystal forms, it can grow quickly if conditions are right, faster than a liquid water droplet would in similar circumstances. Plus, the rapid growth helps the crystals stick around longer than a water droplet, which might evaporate before it has a chance to fall as precipitation.
Rainmaker’s twist — doing this work with drones instead of pilots — could prove safer in the longer term. The company points out that the flight profiles are tightly bounded, overseen by a remote pilot and trained crews, over rural areas, with other safety checks in place.
What happens next hinges on whether the FAA thinks those mitigations are sufficient. However it’s decided, the agency’s response will likely set the tone for novel cloud-seeding approaches.
South Metro Fire Rescue said the crash happened 8636 S. Peoria Street which is near a business park, including the Flexential – Denver – Englewood Data Center.
Firefighters contained flames that were threatening a structure and a large generator.
Plane crash Friday morning about a mile south of Centennial Airport
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Aviation Administration will release all further information, according to South Metro Fire Rescue.
Jaimie Williams- Dawson | Denver7
Denver7’s Lauren Lennon has arrived on scene to learn more. She said she could see smoke in the area upon arrival.
The traffic management program started at about 7 a.m. Wednesday. By 7:30 a.m., 126 flights headed in and out of DIA had been delayed, and three were canceled, according to flight tracking software FlightAware.
FAA officials said the ground delay is scheduled through 1 p.m., but it could be lifted earlier if conditions clear up.
As of 7:30 a.m., flights were being delayed an average of 40 minutes. Those delays were expected to jump to more than an hour between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., according to the federal agency.
Southwest delayed 71 flights Wednesday, followed by 25 from SkyWest and 20 from United. Five other airlines delayed between one and three flights, according to FlightAware.
SkyWest canceled two flights, and United canceled one.
Federal regulators gave a strong push to electric-powered air taxis Tuesday by issuing a final rule for operating the aircraft and how pilots will be trained to fly them.The head of the Federal Aviation Administration, Mike Whitaker, said the rule recognizes air taxis as an entirely new type of aircraft that will soon join airplanes and helicopters in the sky.These aircraft take off and land vertically, like helicopters, but fly like fixed-wing planes. Many companies are working to get them on the market, but they have been held back by the lack of clarity over regulations to govern their use.Whitaker said the FAA is stressing safety as it works to fold the new aircraft into the nation’s airspace. He said “powered-lift aircraft” are the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years, since the dawn of helicopters, and the rule will allow for their widespread operation.Air taxi supporters call them a cleaner alternative to passenger planes that burn jet fuel. So far, however, current technology limits their size and likely means that they will be used most often in urban areas. Companies envision carrying people and cargo.One of the companies in the new field, California-based Joby Aviation, praised the FAA regulation. CEO JoeBen Bevirt said the rules “will ensure the U.S. continues to play a global leadership role in the development and adoption of clean flight.”Airlines see air taxis as a way to deliver passengers to airports. Delta Air Lines said in 2022 it would invest $60 million in Joby, and this month Toyota announced a $500 million investment. United Airlines is backing another California-based company, Archer Aviation, with an order for 200 aircraft that Archer said could be worth $1 billion with an option for $500 million more.
Federal regulators gave a strong push to electric-powered air taxis Tuesday by issuing a final rule for operating the aircraft and how pilots will be trained to fly them.
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration, Mike Whitaker, said the rule recognizes air taxis as an entirely new type of aircraft that will soon join airplanes and helicopters in the sky.
These aircraft take off and land vertically, like helicopters, but fly like fixed-wing planes. Many companies are working to get them on the market, but they have been held back by the lack of clarity over regulations to govern their use.
Whitaker said the FAA is stressing safety as it works to fold the new aircraft into the nation’s airspace. He said “powered-lift aircraft” are the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years, since the dawn of helicopters, and the rule will allow for their widespread operation.
Air taxi supporters call them a cleaner alternative to passenger planes that burn jet fuel. So far, however, current technology limits their size and likely means that they will be used most often in urban areas. Companies envision carrying people and cargo.
One of the companies in the new field, California-based Joby Aviation, praised the FAA regulation. CEO JoeBen Bevirt said the rules “will ensure the U.S. continues to play a global leadership role in the development and adoption of clean flight.”
Airlines see air taxis as a way to deliver passengers to airports. Delta Air Lines said in 2022 it would invest $60 million in Joby, and this month Toyota announced a $500 million investment. United Airlines is backing another California-based company, Archer Aviation, with an order for 200 aircraft that Archer said could be worth $1 billion with an option for $500 million more.
Prosecutors announced the indictment of an Aldie, Virginia, man for his alleged part in a multiyear lending scam that defrauded dozens of investors in Maryland, Virginia and other jurisdictions.
Prosecutors announced the indictment of an Aldie, Virginia, man for his alleged part in a multiyear lending scam that defrauded dozens of investors in Maryland, Virginia and other jurisdictions.
A federal grand jury indicted 46-year-old Babu Ramaraj on charges of wire fraud and unlawful monetary transactions in late June, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Ramaraj and his wife own DAB Inspection and Consulting Services, a home contractor that does patio and deck projects, according to court documents.
Ramaraj allegedly told investors that the small, modestly performing business nabbed profitable contracts with government agencies including the Federal Aviation Administration, Virginia Department of Transportation and more.
He also reportedly told investors his business was, “a joint venture partner on a Washington DC Water Clean Rivers Project” that collectively netted “tens of millions of dollars each” for “engineering inspection work on huge infrastructure projects.”
Officials argued that Ramaraj claimed a large upfront bond payment was necessary to secure these jobs, but the business was not able to obtain bank financing because DAB was too new and needed money faster than a bank could feasibly provide.
From January 2020 to May 2024, Ramaraj reportedly pitched loans to investors, “including members of his Loudoun County cricket league,” at a high interest rate.
“Using money from later investors, Ramaraj allegedly paid initial investors the promised returns to entice them to continue investing and to recruit other friends and family to invest,” the news release stated.
To convince investors that his scam was real, Ramaraj allegedly supplied falsified contract award letters, invoices, DAB financial records and more.
Once he got the money, prosecutors argue that he went on a spending spree of sorts.
Instead of paying for the bonds as promised, Ramaraj allegedly moved the money into brokerage accounts that belonged to him and his wife so they could “engage in securities trades.”
Prosecutors said that DAB garnered “more than $20 million in aggregate” utilizing this tactic, wiring over $1 million to accounts in India under his wife’s name. The indictment also claims Ramaraj used money to purchase several automobiles, obtain real properties and make other payments to fund his lifestyle.
“If convicted, Ramaraj faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and up to 10 years in prison for each count of unlawful monetary transactions,” the Justice Department stated.
The charges follow federal complaints filed against Ramaraj by residents in North Carolina and Georgia. North Carolina complainants accused him of scamming them out of approximately $400,000 from July 2022 to July 2023, while Georgia residents accused Ramaraj of tricking them out of $200,000.
Ramaraj is set to appear in federal court for his arraignment on July 12.
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A new whistleblower report alleges some faulty airplane parts may have been used on Boeing jets. It comes as the company has faced a series of safety and quality concerns, including a door panel that blew off an Alaska Airlines plane mid-flight in January.
The new complaint is from Boeing employee Sam Mohawk, who claims that when Boeing restarted production of the 737 Max after two deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019, there was “a 300% increase” in reports about parts that did not meet manufacturer standards.
While those parts were supposed to be removed from production and closely tracked, the report alleges “the 737 program was losing hundreds of non-conforming parts.”
“Mohawk feared that non-conforming parts were being installed on the 737s and that could lead to a catastrophic event,” according to the report.
Boeing’s outgoing CEO Dave Calhoun is set to testify Tuesday before the Senate on Capitol Hill.
The document also claims that when Boeing learned of a pending FAA inspection last June, many parts were moved to another location to “intentionally hide improperly stored parts from the FAA.”
“We received this document late Monday evening and are reviewing the claims,” Boeing said in a statement. “We continuously encourage employees to report all concerns as our priority is to ensure the safety of our airplanes and the flying public.”
In April, Boeing whistleblowers, including Sam Salehpour, a quality engineer at the company, testified to lawmakers over safety concerns.
“Despite what Boeing officials state publicly, there is no safety culture at Boeing, and employees like me who speak up about defects with its production activities and lack of quality control are ignored, marginalized, threatened, sidelined and worse,” he told members of an investigative panel of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Boeing denied Salehpour’s allegations, and said in a statement, “A 787 can safely operate for at least 30 years before needing expanded airframe maintenance routines. Extensive and rigorous testing of the fuselage and heavy maintenance checks of nearly 700 in-service airplanes to date have found zero evidence of airframe fatigue.”
Calhoun is also expected during his testimony to outline steps Boeing is taking to make improvements, including its safety and quality action plan recently submitted to the FAA, and tell senators Boeing’s culture is “far from perfect, but we are taking action and making progress.”
“Boeing has adopted a broken safety culture of shut up, not speak up when it comes to its workers reporting problems and that kind of retaliation is a recipe for disaster,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, said.
“We reviewed Boeing’s roadmap to set a new standard of safety and underscored that they must follow through on corrective actions and effectively transform their safety culture,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said. “On the FAA’s part, we will make sure they do and that their fixes are effective. This does not mark the end of our increased oversight of Boeing and its suppliers, but it sets a new standard of how Boeing does business.”
Calhoun will leave his position by the end of this year, a new CEO has not been named.
Emmy Award-winning journalist Kris Van Cleave is the senior transportation correspondent for CBS News based in Phoenix, Arizona, where he also serves as a national correspondent reporting for all CBS News broadcasts and platforms.
On Wednesday morning, an American Airlines flight bound for Boston from Reagan National Airport in Arlington had to abort its takeoff to avoid colliding with another plane. The incident has a congressional delegation from the D.C. area expressing concerns about the Senate’s vote to increase air traffic at the airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration said American Airlines Flight 2134’s takeoff was aborted by air traffic controllers because another aircraft had been cleared to land on an intersecting runway. The FAA is investigating the incident.
The American flight was taking off on the 7,159-foot Runway 1 and had reached speeds of nearly 100 miles per hour, as another plane — a smaller, twin-engine King Air — was in the process of landing on the shorter 5,204-foot Runway 33. The two runways intersect about three quarters up Runway 1.
In recordings, air traffic controllers can be heard urgently directing the American Airlines pilot to stop the takeoff and turn off the main runway to avoid crossing paths with the smaller plane.
“American 2134, cancel takeoff clearance!” an air traffic controller said. “Zero alpha alpha, go around! Go around!”
“Rejecting the takeoff, 2134,” a pilot replied.
“Zero alpha alpha, we cannot go around. We were already on the ground,” said the pilot.
“American 2134, do you want to go back to the gate?” said the air traffic controller.
“Yeah, we need to talk to maintenance, but yeah, I think we were above 80 knots, so we’re going to have to get an inspection,” said the pilot.
According to records from FlightAware, the American Airlines flight ultimately took off at 2:21 p.m. and landed in Boston at 3:52 p.m., about four hours late.
This is the second incident like this to take place in recent months. On April 18, a JetBlue and Southwest Airlines plane were also told to stop to avoid a collision on the runway. In that incident, those two planes came within 400 feet of a crash, and one aviation safety expert said at the time there was no room for error.
“Could have been much worse”
The incident has a congressional delegation from the D.C. area expressing concerns about the Senate’s vote to increase air traffic at the airport.
“This was another very scary moment,” said U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland.
Van Hollen is among a congressional delegation made up of lawmakers from D.C., Maryland and Virginia who spoke out against a FAA reauthorization bill which would allow add five more landings and takeoffs out of the airport.
Van Hollen said the second near miss incident is a reminder of why the Senate’s decision to add more slots at Reagan National was “so misguided.”
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, of Texas, was one of the main backers of the amendment, which proponents said would bring more direct flights to the D.C. region from other parts of the nation. WTOP reached out to Sen. Cruz’s office for comment on the latest near miss.
In a joint statement, Virginia Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner said they are “deeply relieved no one was injured” but called what happened further evidence that the airport is “severely overburdened and at capacity.”
“It shows why the Senate’s decision to jam even more flights onto the busiest runway in America as part of the FAA reauthorization bill — a move we fought against for months — was so dangerous and reckless,” the senators said.
On X, Congressman Don Beyer, of Virginia, said what took place “could have been much worse.”
“We warned Congress repeatedly about the safety risks of putting more traffic on DCA’s congested runways,” Beyer said.
Van Hollen said a desire for additional flights in the region could be better handled by adding the flights to nearby Dulles International Airport and BWI Marshall Airport.
“It makes much more sense to make better use of those airports rather than cram more and more flights into National Airport and onto the busiest runway in the country,” Van Hollen said.
According to Van Hollen, as they await the outcome of the FAA’s investigation, he said he will work with his Virginia colleagues to see if there is a way they can “claw back” at the additional slots at Reagan.
“This (incident) should be a warning to those who are pressing to open up even more slots,” Van Hollen said.
WTOP’s Dan Ronan contributed to this story.
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Who owns the airspace over your backyard? In theory, everyone. The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 declared that “a citizen of the United States has a public right of transit through the navigable airspace.” That is, everywhere above the trees and buildings.
But it’s up to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to set the rules of that navigation. While most of the land area in America is uncontrolled airspace, most of the land where people live falls under controlled airspace, thanks to the amount of air traffic flowing through.
In 2012, Congress asked the FAA to begin regulating drones as aircraft. And in 2020, following changes in the law, the FAA removed the distinction between model planes and drones, classifying both as “unmanned aerial systems.” Although aircraft below 0.55 pounds don’t have to be registered with the feds, “remote pilots” all have to follow the same rules—including getting control tower permission to fly in controlled airspace.
Remote pilots have to obey the same NOTAMs (short for “notice to air missions”) as regular pilots. Most NOTAMs are temporary security restrictions; there is also a permanent NOTAM banning flights over Washington, D.C., and somewhat confusing rules for the airspace around sports games.
On the bright side, the FAA’s prerogative over airspace means that other wings of the government can’t regulate the air—though some have come up with creative ways around that. Although they can’t stop you once you’re in the air, the National Park Service and the city of New York both ban drone takeoffs and landings on their turf. St. Louis, meanwhile, has set up a restrictive licensing system for drone businesses.
Reason has compiled a map of cities across America where the skies ain’t free. It doesn’t include NOTAMs, national security restrictions, stadium no-fly zones, or local regulations. (To get the most up-to-date restrictions, and to get control tower approval to fly in controlled airspace, you may want to use a licensed LAANC app.) You might be surprised at some of these.
Between all the commercial airports—Los Angeles hosts the most airline hubs out of any American city—and the Hollywood private planes, there’s not a lot of room for Angeleno remote-control hobbyists. The Reason Foundation’s offices are located near LAX: convenient for catching a flight, not so convenient for taking a drone selfie.
Miami has some things in common with Los Angeles: a sunny climate, a party culture, a district called Hollywood. More so than California, South Florida is also home to many private aviation enthusiasts. All that means lots of airports, with lots of controlled airspace around them. Then there’s the Everglades, much of which is national parkland, where drone takeoffs are banned.
In the middle of the Everglades sits the Dade-Collier training center, previously known as the Big Cypress Jetport. Built in the late 1960s, the Jetport was slated to be the largest airport in the world, a hub for supersonic jetliners. But mass supersonic aviation never took off, and only one runway was completed. The rest of the airport grounds became the Big Cypress National Preserve.
Central Florida is even worse for flight restrictions. There are lots of airports and military bases around Tampa and Orlando, a permanent no-fly zone over Disney World, and frequent flight restrictions due to space launchers from Cape Canaveral. Your average Florida Man isn’t that free to take to the skies.
Knoxville is the “streaking capital of the world” and the namesake of Jackass star Johnny Knoxville, But the skies around it are not exactly naked. Most of downtown is clothed by controlled airspace, thanks to Downtown Island, a general aviation airport. The parks along the Tennessee River, meanwhile, fall under McGhee-Tyson Airport’s controlled airspace. Parts of the controlled airspace curve to avoid the Skyranch (a private airfield) and the University of Tennessee hospital helipad.
Oh: And if you want to fly over the Great Smoky Mountains nearby, remember that the National Park Service doesn’t allow drone takeoffs.
In the words of the D.C. municipal government, “The airspace around Washington, DC. is more restricted than in any other part of the country.” Perhaps more than any other part of the world, even Red Square. Flying a remote-control aircraft within a 15-mile radius of the city is a very good way to get a visit from an unpleasant three-letter agency. It’s hard to get a waiver unless you’re the Smithsonian—or a government agency spying on protesters.
But some people take the risk. A Canadian drone photographer named Adrien Salv recently posted a video of a drone doing a jerky loop-de-loop around the Washington Monument, which Salv claimed (perhaps not believably) to have found on a memory card lying in the grass. The drone community was not amused by the stunt. “Imagine going to jail for this shitty of a dive,” one commenter wrote. There’s no word yet on what happened to the pilot.
Speaking of American history, Concord is the home of “the shot heard ’round the world,” the opening battle of the American Revolution. But don’t think you can celebrate freedom by flying freely through the skies. The bridge where the Battle of Lexington and Concord began is right next to Hanscom Field, home to both a civilian airport and a U.S. Air Force base.
To fly your remote aircraft as freely as possible, you’ll want to get as far away from big cities as possible, right? Not so fast. A lot of small towns on the Great Plains have their own municipal airports, with controlled airspace covering the entire town. Aberdeen is just one example.
Dodge City is another one. To fly a drone without FAA approval, you’re going to have to get out of Dodge. Literally.
A $105 billion bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration for five years ahead of a May 10 deadline would raise hiring targets for air traffic control and would codify in law a rule the Biden administration introduced this month requiring airlines to offer refunds for canceled or significantly delayed flights, among other consumer-focused provisions.
This article was reprinted with permission from Virginia Mercury.
Key members of Congress announced an agreement Monday on a $105 billion bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration for five years ahead of a May 10 deadline.
The 1,000-page bill would raise hiring targets for air traffic control and would codify in law a rule the Biden administration introduced this month requiring airlines to offer refunds for canceled or significantly delayed flights, among other consumer-focused provisions.
The legislation also would add flights to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, despite opposition from U.S. senators from Virginia and Maryland who said in a letter Monday the move would hurt safety efforts.
The compromise measure was negotiated by U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Chair Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington state, and ranking Republican Ted Cruz of Texas and U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Sam Graves, a Missouri Republican, and ranking Democrat Rick Larsen, a Washington Democrat.
The four lawmakers released a joint statement announcing the agreement early Monday praising their “bipartisan, bicameral, comprehensive agreement.”
“The American people deserve nothing less than the safest and most efficient aerospace system in the world, and to that end, our bill provides critical safety enhancements, grows America’s aviation workforce, invests in infrastructure at airports of all sizes, sets clear priorities for advancing innovative aviation solutions, improves the flying public’s travel experience, and ensures a healthy general aviation sector for years to come,” the lawmakers said.
The bill would authorize $66.7 billion to fund key safety programs such as aircraft safety certification and the hiring of air traffic controllers and technical engineers. It would also authorize $19.35 billion for infrastructure improvements. It would more than double annual funding for the Essential Air Service program that subsidizes flights to small rural airports.
No votes have been scheduled in either chamber on the measure, which President Joe Biden must sign by midnight on May 10 to avoid a lapse in FAA authority.
Washington National Airport
With endorsements from committee leaders on both sides of the aisle, the bill should have broad bipartisan appeal in both chambers of Congress.
But senators from the states bordering Washington, D.C., said Monday they opposed the provision adding five incoming and five outgoing flights to Washington’s Reagan National Airport, or DCA, located in Northern Virginia just across the Potomac River.
In a statement, Democratic Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia and Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland vowed to “continue to fight against this ridiculous and dangerous provision.”
Two planes cleared to take off from the busy airport came within 400 feet of crashing in an April 18 incident. The near-miss should have underscored the crowded conditions at DCA, which, as the closest airport to the Capitol, is a favorite of members of Congress, the senators wrote.
Committee members, none of whom are from the area, “decided to ignore the flashing red warning light of the recent near collision of two aircraft at DCA and jam even more flights onto the busiest runway in America,” the senators said. “It should go without saying that the safety of the traveling public should be a higher priority than the convenience of a few lawmakers who want direct flights home from their preferred airport.”
Because the federal government owns DCA and Dulles International Airport further into the Northern Virginia suburbs, Congress has the power to make operational changes.
Consumer provisions
The bill includes several provisions meant to protect consumers.
It would establish in law a rule the Biden administration proposed this month to require airlines to offer cash refunds for flight delays of more than three hours for domestic flights or six hours for international travel.
The Biden administration had sought such a measure, even as it pursued the rule.
It would also require airline credits to be effective for at least five years, bar airlines from charging families to sit together and require the Transportation Department to create a digital dashboard of the minimum seat sizes for U.S. airlines. It does not mandate a national standard for seat size, but it does direct the FAA to decide if a rule on the issue is needed.
The legislation would establish a Senate-confirmed position of deputy secretary for consumer protection, who would run a new office with an annual budget of $14 million dedicated to consumer issues.
The Federal Aviation Administration has announced new rules requiring air traffic controllers to take more time off between shifts.It follows two near-miss incidents at major Northeast airports and an expert panel’s recommendations on addressing fatigue in the system. A heightened focus on air safety has emerged following close calls between planes. Just last week, a near miss at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, occurred when an air traffic controller cleared a plane to cross the same runway where another was preparing to take off, causing a scramble to stop it.”We’ve seen these two aircraft come very close to collision. And thankfully, the air traffic controllers intervened,” said Dr. Hassan Shahidi of the Flight Safety Foundation.On Monday, the FAA announced new requirements for charter and commuter airlines to implement a safety plan to identify hazards and manage risks. This announcement came shortly after the FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker, stated that he is requiring air traffic controllers to get more rest between shifts.”Even if we’re fully staffed, the scheduling practices, as they currently are, create fatigue risk in the system. So we need to address that fatigue risk,” Whitaker said.Whitaker is requiring a minimum of 10 hours off between shifts – and 12 hours for midnight shifts – following a report that raised concerns about fatigue. This is an issue that experts say needs to be addressed, since many controllers are already working six days a week.”This rule is going to help make sure that they’re well rested and that they’re not working the overtime that they’ve been working in the past,” Shahidi said.However, with a current shortage of air traffic controllers, the National Association representing them expressed concerns. “The immediate application of the Administrator’s new rules may lead to coverage holes in air traffic facilities’ schedules,” the Association warned.Critics worry that the new requirements could lead to more overtime to fill those holes. The new rules are set to take effect in about three months.In response to the shortage of air traffic controllers, the FAA is accelerating hiring and plans to hire 1,800 more air traffic controllers this year. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association is urging Congress to act to address the crisis by requiring the FAA to hire the maximum number of air traffic controllers over the next five years.The FAA is currently investigating recent close calls at Reagan National and JFK airports.
The Federal Aviation Administration has announced new rules requiring air traffic controllers to take more time off between shifts.
It follows two near-miss incidents at major Northeast airports and an expert panel’s recommendations on addressing fatigue in the system. A heightened focus on air safety has emerged following close calls between planes.
Just last week, a near miss at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, occurred when an air traffic controller cleared a plane to cross the same runway where another was preparing to take off, causing a scramble to stop it.
“We’ve seen these two aircraft come very close to collision. And thankfully, the air traffic controllers intervened,” said Dr. Hassan Shahidi of the Flight Safety Foundation.
On Monday, the FAA announced new requirements for charter and commuter airlines to implement a safety plan to identify hazards and manage risks.
This announcement came shortly after the FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker, stated that he is requiring air traffic controllers to get more rest between shifts.
“Even if we’re fully staffed, the scheduling practices, as they currently are, create fatigue risk in the system. So we need to address that fatigue risk,” Whitaker said.
Whitaker is requiring a minimum of 10 hours off between shifts – and 12 hours for midnight shifts – following a report that raised concerns about fatigue. This is an issue that experts say needs to be addressed, since many controllers are already working six days a week.
“This rule is going to help make sure that they’re well rested and that they’re not working the overtime that they’ve been working in the past,” Shahidi said.
However, with a current shortage of air traffic controllers, the National Association representing them expressed concerns.
“The immediate application of the Administrator’s new rules may lead to coverage holes in air traffic facilities’ schedules,” the Association warned.
Critics worry that the new requirements could lead to more overtime to fill those holes. The new rules are set to take effect in about three months.
In response to the shortage of air traffic controllers, the FAA is accelerating hiring and plans to hire 1,800 more air traffic controllers this year.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association is urging Congress to act to address the crisis by requiring the FAA to hire the maximum number of air traffic controllers over the next five years.
The FAA is currently investigating recent close calls at Reagan National and JFK airports.
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration says it will investigate after a flight at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was instructed to cross a runway where another flight was starting its takeoff.
The FAA says a JetBlue flight was starting its takeoff roll on Thursday morning, when an air traffic controller instructed a Southwest Airlines flight to cross the same runway.
Southwest Airlines Flight 2937 was bound for Orlando, Florida, and JetBlue flight 1554 was bound for Boston.
JetBlue says the flight aborted takeoff because of another aircraft trying to cross the runway, and it will work with federal officials as the event is investigated.
Southwest says it’s working with the FAA to “fully understand the circumstances.”
Two passenger jets came within 400 feet of each other before controllers took last-minute evasive action and immediately stopped the two planes at Reagan National Airport on Thursday.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed to WTOP it is investigating a near collision that occurred Thursday morning at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.
Two passenger jets came within 400 feet of each other before controllers took last-minute evasive action and immediately stopped the two planes. It’s not clear why the jets were authorized to be on the same runway at the same time.
At 7:41 a.m., one controller frantically yelled, “JetBlue 1554 stop! 1554 stop!” This took place 30 seconds after JetBlue flight to Boston was cleared for takeoff and was on Runway 4, beginning its movement down the runway.
The plane was gaining speed when a controller frantically radioed to the crew of nearby Southwest Airlines Flight 2937 to immediately stop its movement. The Southwest flight bound for Orlando was moving close to the runway, and it appears the two planes were on a collision course.
“Southwest, stop! Southwest 2937, stop!” a controller yelled.
Air traffic control audio can also be heard of the moment the JetBlue flight was cleared for takeoff.
“JetBlue 1554, traffic holds off your right. Wind calm, Runway 4, cleared for takeoff,” another controller said. The JetBlue pilot acknowledged the air traffic controller and began the flight.
“Cleared for takeoff, Runway 4, JetBlue 1554,” the pilot replied.
Radio traffic then shows another unidentified voice urging an air traffic controller to stop the Southwest Airlines flight, after the JetBlue flight is moving and just before the controller issues her urgent call.
“Tell Southwest to stop,” the transmission states.
The Southwest flight had crossed what is called a “hold short line,” and the pilots stopped the plane before it crossed onto the runway. It ended up facing the oncoming JetBlue plane at an angle at the intersection.
The Southwest pilot replied: “We stopped. We were cleared to cross Runway 4.”
“We’re stopping, JetBlue 1554,” the pilots of that plane said.
“An air traffic controller instructed Southwest Airlines Flight 2937 to cross Runway 4 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport while JetBlue Flight 1554 was starting its takeoff roll on the same runway,” the FAA said in a statement emailed to WTOP. “The FAA will investigate.”
“This is very worrisome”
John Nance, an aviation analyst for ABC News and Good Morning America, joined WTOP to talk about what may have happened at DCA earlier Thursday
“This is unacceptably close,” retired Alaska Airlines captain and aviation safety analyst John Nance told WTOP. “We have a dichotomy between two controllers who did not have situational awareness of exactly who was doing what. This is very unusual, because they usually coordinate as seamlessly as possible.”
Nance said the JetBlue flight was moving at an estimated 34 knots, or 39 mph, before it stopped. The plane would become airborne at about 135 knots, about 45 seconds after first beginning its acceleration.
“This one is going to take some study. We were out of options in this case. The crew had minimal time,” he said.
Both the JetBlue and Southwest flights taxied back to different runways and, a short time later, departed to their respective destinations.
Nance emphasized that the system worked in preventing a collision. However, there were several breakdowns.
“There was no margin left, if there had been a failure to communicate to JetBlue and they were on a high-speed portion of their take off, they would not have been able to swerve, more than likely with someone entering the intersection at exactly that point,” Nance said.
“Had the controller failed to issue the warning, you might have easily had a collision. We have backup systems, sometimes they’re human and sometimes they’re mechanical, but when you run out of backup systems and one more problem is going to give you the high likelihood of a major collision, this is very worrisome,” he added.
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The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating why a Southwest Airlines plane veered off course and had a close call with an air traffic control tower during an attempted landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, the agency said Thursday.The incident happened around 1 p.m. on March 23 when Southwest Flight 147 aborted its first approach to the airport because of bad weather.Video above: American woman dies on plane bound for North Carolina”Go around! Go around,” the air traffic controller is heard saying on ATC radio communication.”Continue climbing,” the air traffic controller said about 12 seconds later. “You were — not on the approach.”Southwest Airlines said the flight encountered turbulence and low visibility as it approached LaGuardia. The company said it is looking into the incident.”We are reviewing the event as part of our Safety systems,” Southwest said in a written statement.The flight was diverted to Baltimore, where it landed safely, the FAA said.The incident comes as the FAA has launched several investigations into near-collisions at U.S. airports since last year.An expert panel assembled to address the issue identified multiple issues contributing to the incidents, including inconsistent funding, outdated technology, short-staffed air traffic control towers and onerous training requirements.The panel’s report, issued in November, provided FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker with a roadmap for changes and upgrades.”The confluence of the issues we identified results in an erosion of safety margins that must be urgently addressed,” the report said.The panel was assembled after an emergency FAA safety summit in March 2023 that brought together regulators and industry groups after multiple high-profile runway incursions were reported at large U.S. airports.”We are particularly concerned because we have seen an uptick in serious close calls,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said at the time.Still, commercial plane crashes are very rare. About 45,000 flights take place each day in the US with no fatalities.CNN’s Pete Muntean and Holly Yan contributed to this report.
CNN —
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating why a Southwest Airlines plane veered off course and had a close call with an air traffic control tower during an attempted landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, the agency said Thursday.
The incident happened around 1 p.m. on March 23 when Southwest Flight 147 aborted its first approach to the airport because of bad weather.
Video above: American woman dies on plane bound for North Carolina
“Go around! Go around,” the air traffic controller is heard saying on ATC radio communication.
“Continue climbing,” the air traffic controller said about 12 seconds later. “You were — not on the approach.”
Southwest Airlines said the flight encountered turbulence and low visibility as it approached LaGuardia. The company said it is looking into the incident.
“We are reviewing the event as part of our Safety systems,” Southwest said in a written statement.
The flight was diverted to Baltimore, where it landed safely, the FAA said.
The incident comes as the FAA has launched several investigations into near-collisions at U.S. airports since last year.
An expert panel assembled to address the issue identified multiple issues contributing to the incidents, including inconsistent funding, outdated technology, short-staffed air traffic control towers and onerous training requirements.
The panel’s report, issued in November, provided FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker with a roadmap for changes and upgrades.
“The confluence of the issues we identified results in an erosion of safety margins that must be urgently addressed,” the report said.
The panel was assembled after an emergency FAA safety summit in March 2023 that brought together regulators and industry groups after multiple high-profile runway incursions were reported at large U.S. airports.
“We are particularly concerned because we have seen an uptick in serious close calls,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said at the time.
Still, commercial plane crashes are very rare. About 45,000 flights take place each day in the US with no fatalities.
CNN’s Pete Muntean and Holly Yan contributed to this report.
Alaska Airlines aircraft sit in the airline’s hangar at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in SeaTac, Wash. Boeing has acknowledged in a letter to Congress that it cannot find records for work done on a door panel that blew out on an Alaska Airlines flight over Oregon two months ago. Ziad Ojakli, Boeing executive vice president and chief government lobbyist, wrote to Sen. Maria Cantwell on Friday, March 8 saying, “We have looked extensively and have not found any such documentation.” (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
(Associated Press) – The FBI has told passengers on the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max that lost a door-plug panel in midflight that they might be victims of a crime.
“I’m contacting you because we have identified you as a possible victim of a crime,” a victim specialist from the federal agency’s Seattle office wrote in the letters, which passengers received this week. “This case is currently under investigation by the FBI.”
The plane was flying 16,000 feet over Oregon on Jan. 5 when the panel blew out, leaving a gaping hole in the side. The rapid loss of cabin pressure caused oxygen masks to drop from the ceiling, and suction as air rushed from the hole exerted force on people inside the plane.
Pilots were able to land safely in Portland, Oregon, and none of the 171 passengers and six crew members were seriously injured. Investigators say it appears that four bolts used to help secure the panel were missing after the plane was worked on at a Boeing factory in Renton, Washington.
Published reports and government officials have said the U.S. Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into whether the panel blowout violated terms of a 2021 settlement that let Boeing avoid prosecution for allegedly misleading regulators who certified the 737 Max.
The settlement followed two crashes of Boeing Max jets in 2018 and 2019 that killed a total of 346 people.
Mark Lindquist, a lawyer representing some of the passengers on the Alaska Airlines flight in a lawsuit against Boeing, shared the FBI letter with The Associated Press. The notice gave recipients an email address, a phone number, a case number and a personal identification number so they can share questions and concerns.
“A criminal investigation can be a lengthy undertaking, and, for several reasons, we cannot tell you about its progress at this time. A victim of a federal crime is entitled to receive certain services,” the letter stated.
The FBI letter did not name Boeing, which declined to comment Friday. Alaska Airlines said, “We are fully cooperating and do not believe we are a target of the investigation.”
The National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Justice Department are conducting separate investigations of Boeing.
HOUSTON, Texas – More and more people are shining lasers at pilots flying above Houston.
In 2023 alone, it happened well over 400 times. Each of those occasions temporarily blinding a pilot flying at several hundred miles per hour, putting lives in the air and on the ground in danger.
A laser strike is when someone on the ground points a laser at an aircraft. The laser hits the cockpit of the airplane or helicopter, often obstructing the pilot’s vision temporarily. In some serious cases, a laser strike can lead to injury.
According to data from the FAA, pilots flying above the Houston area reported 473 laser strikes.
One of those pilots is Lt. Ryan Chapman with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Texas Department of Public Safety Pilot Lt. Ryan Chapman flying above Houston, Texas in a law enforcement helicopter. (Copyright 2023 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)
“Your eyes constrict and you can’t see anything,” Chapman said. “Not only is my life at stake, but my partner’s life is too.”
He flies the Texas DPS helicopter around 1,000 feet above the ground, travelling often at speeds topping 150+ miles per hour. Just the slightest of movements on the controls could be the difference between staying airborne or crashing to the ground.
“It’s like jumping on one leg, patting your head and rubbing your belly,” Chapman said. “Because every limb you have is doing something different. There’s a lot going on. And then you add a distraction like a laser you can’t see that’s that’s a big factor.”
Any distraction is bad, but a blinding laser could be catastrophic. When the laser beam enters the cockpit, it often reflects off the glass, expanding and blinding the pilots to the point they can’t see.
A laser strike as seen in the cockpit by the pilot of an aircraft. (Copyright 2023 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)
To make matters worse, law enforcement, like the Texas Department of Public Safety, uses night vision goggles. This just makes the laser strike that much more powerful.
Gage: “When you think about a laser coming out of a little device just like that, whenever it travels up to the aircraft, is it coming in tiny like that? Or what does it look like?”
Ryan: “No. As the beam travels, it gets wider from the source. It gets wider. And so when it hits, it hits a wider surface area of the actual helicopter or airplane.”
According to Chapman, the tiny little laser that’s smaller than the tip of a pencil grows into a ginormous glow.
Gage: “We’re right over one of Houston’s busiest highways. If something, God forbid, were to happen. I mean this not only for us in the aircraft, but it could be for countless people on the ground.”
Ryan: “That’s correct. Yep. Residential areas. Because most people are at home when they’re doing this, they don’t realize the people that their friends and neighbors they’re putting at risk.”
Chapman is one of the thousands of pilots that have been blinded by lasers. This wasn’t a one-time occurrence for him.
Ryan: “At least 25.”
Gage: ”25 time?”
Ryan: “25 times.”
Gage: “How long you been doing this?”
Ryan: “Two years.”
Gage:“You’ve been hit 25 times in two years?”
Ryan: “Yes, sir.”
His most recent run in with a laser was on February 1, 2024.
Two men are accused of pointing a laser at his law enforcement helicopter in Northwest Houston. His tactical officer, or right hand man, used the helicopters state-of-the-art cameras system to hone in the home that the light beam was coming from.
Texas Department of Public Safety Pilot Lt. Ryan Chapman flying above Houston, Texas in a law enforcement helicopter. (Copyright 2023 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)
“You can see the beam all the way to the ground. So, if you’re within range of the camera, then we can see you,” Chapman said.
The chopper calling down to Precinct 4 Constable deputies who arrested Artemio Gonzales and Leonel Vasquez.
“If an individual decides to make that unfortunate choice, state wise, it’s a Class A misdemeanor, but federally, it’s a felony charge,” said Sgt. Stephen Woodward of the Texas Department of Public Safety. “And it’s not a matter of if, it’s when you get caught, you could face some serious penalties and fines.”
Across the county, laser strikes are up 40%, according to data from the FAA. A total of 13,304 reports were filed in 2023 alone.
In the Lonestar State, a total of more than 1,400 laser strikes were recorded. Of those, 473 are in the Houston area.
Many of those strikes hitting commercial airline jets, which are carrying hundreds of passengers.
Gage: “What does that tell you?”
Ryan: It tells me they’re not getting caught enough.”
That’s exactly what the FAA is looking to change. The enforcer of the sky is cracking down on anyone who has the not so bright idea to blind a pilot.
Texas Department of Public Safety Pilot Lt. Ryan Chapman flying above Houston, Texas in a law enforcement helicopter. (Copyright 2023 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)
“Including fines of up to $11,000 per violation. Bottom line lasers and aircraft don’t mix,” said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker.
Gage: “What would you say to anybody that thinks it’s funny? It’s a joke to just go ahead and shine. A laser up in the sky thinking it’s harmless fun.”
Ryan: “I would tell them to think about their actions before they do that, because it’s not fun and it’s not safe.”
To report a laser incident to the FAA, click here.
Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
BAKER, Calif. (KABC) — The CEO of one of Nigeria’s largest banks was killed on Friday when a helicopter he was riding in crashed near Baker in San Bernardino County.
Herbert Wigwe, CEO of Access Bank, was among six people on board when the helicopter crashed shortly after 10 p.m. His death was confirmed by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director general of the World Trade Organization and formerly Nigeria’s finance minister, in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said the helicopter crashed east of Interstate 15 near Halloran Springs Road, which is near the California-Nevada border and about an 80-mile drive from Las Vegas.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the helicopter – a Eurocopter EC 120 – had six people aboard. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB said investigators would arrive on Saturday and begin gathering information.
The sheriff’s department said they had not found any survivors, but declined to elaborate.
The helicopter took off from Palm Springs Airport around 8:45 p.m. and was en route to Boulder City, Nevada. Boulder City is about 26 miles southeast of Las Vegas, where the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers are set to play in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday.
Halloran Springs Road crosses over the 15 Freeway in an area known to travelers for an abandoned gas station with a sign declaring “Lo Gas” and “Eat.” It’s located in a remote area of the Mojave Desert, with an elevation of nearly 3,000 feet. Logs from the California Highway Patrol show there was rain and snow in the area at about the time of the crash.
The crash comes just three days after a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter crashed in the mountains outside San Diego on Tuesday during historic downpours. Five Marines were killed.
A helicopter carrying six people crashed in San Bernardino County on Friday night near the Nevada border, authorities said.
A Eurocopter EC 130 helicopter crashed east of the 15 Freeway near Nipton, Calif., about 10 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Six people were onboard.
It is unknown if any of the passengers survived.
No other details were available about where the helicopter’s flight originated from or about its destination.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) — San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office says a man stole a single-engine plane from Palo Alto Airport and made a crash landing near Poplar Beach.
SKY7 got video of the single-engine two-seater, nose-down just south of Poplar Beach in Half Moon Bay.
Sheriff’s officials say they received reports the small aircraft landed on the sand at around 5 p.m.
When officers arrived the plane was unoccupied, but witnesses saw the pilot walk away.
Thanks to a witness’s description of the pilot, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office arrested the suspect within minutes.
Sergeant Javier Acosta said the suspect is a 50-year-old man from Miami, Florida.
“I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years and this is a first for me,” Acosta said.
Kathleen Kennedy of Santa Clara said the plane flew right over her – twice.
“The first buzz was so fast, it was a normal speed and it flew right over my head – like 20 feet over my head,” Kennedy said.
She thought it was a mayday call or something illegal.
“It was very unnerving because it’s well below the flight deck it’s well below 500 feet. So that’s why I thought it was a mayday or they were up to no good,” Kennedy said.
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is working with the Palo Alto Police Department on this case.
The Sheriff’s Office said the suspect has been arrested and booked into jail.
“Most important, I’m glad no one else was hurt – I mean that could’ve been really bad,” Kennedy said.
The new chief of the Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday that his agency is midway through a review of manufacturing at Boeing, but he already knows that changes must be made in how the government oversees the aircraft manufacturer.
FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker suggested that Boeing — under pressure from airlines to produce large numbers of planes — is not paying enough attention to safety.
Whitaker said that FAA has had two challenges since Jan. 5, when an emergency door panel blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner over Oregon.
“One, what is wrong with this airplane? But two, what’s going on with the production at Boeing?” Whitaker told a House subcommittee. “There have been issues in the past. They don’t seem to be getting resolved, so we feel like we need to have a heightened level of oversight.”
Whitaker, who took over the FAA about three months ago, was making his first appearance on Capitol Hill since the blowout over Oregon.
Separately, investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board were expected to release a preliminary report on last month’s incident as early as Tuesday.
Whitaker’s testimony before a House Transportation subcommittee was wide-ranging. Leaders of the panel had spelled out questions they wanted answered, but few lawmakers stuck to the script — they asked about everything from the Max 9 incident to raising the retirement age for pilots to migrants being housed at airports.
Whitaker said the FAA is halfway through a six-week audit that has involved placing “about two dozen” inspectors in Boeing’s 737 plant in Renton, Washington, and “maybe half a dozen” at a Wichita, Kansas, plant where supplier Spirit AeroSystems makes the fuselages for 737s.
The inspectors are looking for gaps in the quality of work during the manufacturing process that might have contributed to a door plug blowing off an Alaska Airlines Max 9 at 16,000 feet over Oregon.
Whitaker said he expects the FAA will keep people in the Boeing and Spirit factories after the audit is done, but he said the numbers haven’t been determined.
For many years, the FAA has relied on employees of aircraft manufacturers to perform some safety-related work on planes being built by their companies. That saves money for the government, and in theory taps the expertise of industry employees, but it was criticized after two deadly crashes involving Boeing Max 8 planes in 2018 and 2019.
“In order to have a truly safe system, it seems to me that we can’t rely on the manufacturers themselves to be their own watchdogs,” Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, said during Tuesday’s hearing.
Whitaker has said that the self-checking practice — in theory, overseen by FAA inspectors — should be reconsidered, but he again stopped short of saying it should be scrapped. But he said closer monitoring of Boeing is needed.
“The current system is not working because it is not delivering safe aircraft,” Whitaker said. “Maybe we need to look at the incentives to make sure safety is getting the appropriate first rung of consideration that it deserves.”
No Boeing representatives were scheduled to testify. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Whitaker’s remarks.
Boeing and the FAA have been under renewed scrutiny since last month’s incident on an Alaska Airlines Max 9. Criticism of both the company and its regulator go back to deadly Max 8 crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people.
Whitaker vowed that FAA will “take appropriate and necessary action” to keep the flying public safe.
After the incident on the Alaska jet, the FAA grounded most Max 9s for three weeks until the FAA approved a process for inspecting panels called door plugs. FAA also said it won’t let Boeing increase the production rate of new Max jets until it is satisfied with the company’s safety procedures.
On Sunday, Boeing, which is based in Arlington, Virginia, disclosed that improperly drilled holes in the window frames will require the company to rework about 50 planes before they can be delivered to airline customers.
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