Door lost in mid-flight of Alaska Airlines' Boeing 737 MAX: what the damning FAA report contains

Le constructeur américain Boeing est plus que jamais sous la pression de la FAA, l'agence fédérale de l'aviation, concernant les démêlées de son 737 MAX. EPA – CAROLINE BREHMAN

The US Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) points to manufacturing quality control problems at the aircraft manufacturer and its main subcontractor Spirit Aerosystems, which supplies the fuselages.

Multiple failures: the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), the American federal aviation agency, issued its report following the Boeing 737 incident MAX of'Alaska Airlines, which, in early January, lost a door mid-flight. And it is particularly harsh towards the aircraft manufacturer and its main subcontractor Spirit Aerosystems, in charge of manufacturing the plane's fuselages.

Its audit of production of the 737 MAX from Boeing and supplier Spirit AeroSystems revealed several cases where the companies allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements. In its report, the agency observed "non-compliance issues in manufacturing process control, parts handling and storage as well as product control& ;quot;, as specified by the specialized site Air Journal.

"We have a clear idea of ​​what needs to be done"

The FAA, which transmitted its findings to the two companies, gives them 90 days to respond to the audit. A similar process must also be carried out following the report of an expert examination committee, delivered at the end of February. In this document, the committee also pointed out failures in the aircraft manufacturer's processes.

According to Air Journal, Spirit AeroSystems has stated that it is "in communication with Boeing and the FAA on appropriate corrective actions". For its part,  Boeing explained that "thanks to the findings of the FAA audit and the recent report of the FAA committee ;experts, we have a clear idea of ​​what needs to be done.

A period of 90 days to develop a comprehensive plan

Last week, Mike Whitaker, the head of the FAA, declared, after a working meeting with Boeing boss Dave Calhoun, that the American aircraft manufacturer had to develop within 90 days a comprehensive plan to resolve systemic quality control issues.

"To hold Boeing accountable for its production quality problems", the FAA imposed The aircraft manufacturer to interrupt the increase in the production rate of the Boeing 737 MAX. The agency is also exploring the use of a third party to conduct independent reviews of quality systems and will continue its increased on-site presence at Boeing's Renton facilities. , Washington, and the Spirit AeroSystems facility in Wichita, Kansas.

Spirit Aerosystems could reintegrate Boeing

A few days ago, Boeing executives confirmed they were in talks to buy their subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems. A real turnaround, since the latter is a former subsidiary, which it split in 2005. Objective: better control the manufacturing of its fuselages in the future.

The American manufacturer remains more than ever under the close surveillance of the FAA, which has also specified that it " will carefully examine all Boeing's corrective actions to determine whether they fully address its findings.