Recently, Sean Duffy, Trump’s nominee for U.S. Transportation Secretary, said that the monthly production cap of Boeing 737 MAX will be maintained at 38 aircraft until he is convinced that increasing production will not affect the quality of the aircraft.
Back in January 2024, a 737 MAX 9 aircraft of Alaska Airlines, which had been delivered just two months earlier, suddenly experienced a door detachment incident shortly after takeoff. Mike Whitaker, then Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), immediately stipulated that the production of this type of aircraft be limited to 38 aircraft per month.
2024 will undoubtedly be an eventful year for Boeing. In addition to the door falling incident, workers' strikes also caused serious disruption to its production schedule. By the end of 2024, Jeju Air 737-800 had another accident. A series of blows have caused Boeing to suffer heavy losses in terms of reputation, capital and market position, and customer trust has dropped significantly.
On the 15th of this month, Sean Duffy solemnly promised when attending a senate hearing that he would go all out to restore the trust of global customers in Boeing.
He pointed out: "As the largest exporter of products in the United States, Boeing's problem is by no means an isolated incident, but a key issue that has risen to the level of national security. To get Boeing back on track, we must give it 'tough love' and provide necessary support for its development while strictly supervising it."
Duffy also emphasized that in the aviation field, safety is always the top priority. This is the core issue that he paid most attention to during his tenure, and he also hopes to leave significant achievements in safety.
In addition, Duffy also said that he will work with the FAA Administrator and senior safety experts to discuss the relevant parameters of Boeing's Organization Designation Authorization (ODA). The core of this plan is to hand over some tasks of aircraft certification to Boeing to expand its independent authority in certification.
In May 2022, the FAA made a decision to extend Boeing's ODA program for three years. At that time, Boeing had hoped for a five - year extension but was rejected by the FAA. Now, as 2025 arrives, with only a few months left until the expiration of the approved extension period, the program is about to reach a new adjustment or decision - making point.
It is worth mentioning that after the two fatal crashes of the 737 MAX in 2018 and 2019, the adjustment of the ODA plan has always attracted the attention of all parties. In response to this matter, Boeing chose to refuse to comment, and its attitude was quite cautious.
Foreign media generally believe that after Duffy took office, many problems in the U.S. civil aviation field need to be solved urgently. Strict supervision of Boeing is the first to bear the brunt, and Boeing must be promoted to improve product quality and production standards while ensuring safety.
In addition, the shortage of air traffic controllers in the United States cannot be ignored, which may affect the normal scheduling and safe operation of flights. At the same time, the number of near-collision incidents involving passenger planes in recent years has also highlighted the loopholes in the U.S. aviation safety management system.
