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AFP
Washington
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration faced another grilling in Congress on Wednesday following revelations that pilots complained to Boeing about the 737 MAX in the aftermath of the Lion Air crash.
The hearing comes on the heels of a near-constant trickle of news reports in recent weeks that have raised pointed questions about both Boeing and the FAA over an aircraft that has been grounded globally following the second of two deadly crashes in March that led to 346 deaths.
News reports on the eve of the hearing chronicled a November 27 meeting after the Lion Air crash at which American Airlines pilots pressed Boeing for safety changes that could have temporarily grounded the plane.
Another report on Tuesday said the FAA did not independently evaluate the safety of a Boeing 737 MAX system implicated in the two deadly crashes, deferring to Boeing on key judgments.
Representative Rick Larsen, a Washington Democrat who chaired Wednesday’s hearing, said he would press for answers to ensure safety.
“The Committee’s investigation is just getting started, and it will take some time to get answers, but one thing is clear right now: the FAA has a credibility problem,” Larsen said. “The FAA needs to fix its credibility problem.”
Acting FAA Administrator Daniel Elwell, in opening remarks, defended the agency’s longstanding practice of designating Boeing and other companies with key roles in certification.
“This is not self-certification,” Elwell said. “The FAA retains strict oversight authority. The program allows the FAA to leverage its resources and technical expertise while holding the applicant accountable for compliance.”
Washington
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration faced another grilling in Congress on Wednesday following revelations that pilots complained to Boeing about the 737 MAX in the aftermath of the Lion Air crash.
The hearing comes on the heels of a near-constant trickle of news reports in recent weeks that have raised pointed questions about both Boeing and the FAA over an aircraft that has been grounded globally following the second of two deadly crashes in March that led to 346 deaths.
News reports on the eve of the hearing chronicled a November 27 meeting after the Lion Air crash at which American Airlines pilots pressed Boeing for safety changes that could have temporarily grounded the plane.
Another report on Tuesday said the FAA did not independently evaluate the safety of a Boeing 737 MAX system implicated in the two deadly crashes, deferring to Boeing on key judgments.
Representative Rick Larsen, a Washington Democrat who chaired Wednesday’s hearing, said he would press for answers to ensure safety.
“The Committee’s investigation is just getting started, and it will take some time to get answers, but one thing is clear right now: the FAA has a credibility problem,” Larsen said. “The FAA needs to fix its credibility problem.”
Acting FAA Administrator Daniel Elwell, in opening remarks, defended the agency’s longstanding practice of designating Boeing and other companies with key roles in certification.
“This is not self-certification,” Elwell said. “The FAA retains strict oversight authority. The program allows the FAA to leverage its resources and technical expertise while holding the applicant accountable for compliance.”
