FAA must address concerns before extending Boeing regulatory program, senator says

WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell on Tuesday urged the Federal Aviation Administration to address critical concerns before deciding whether to extend a program that allows Boeing BA.N to perform FAA-delegated tasks like inspections and approving repairs.

The FAA in May 2022 opted to renew Boeing's Organization Designation Authorization program for three years, rather than the standard five years, to ensure the planemaker implemented "required improvements."

Boeing's quality and safety efforts have faced harsh criticism since a January 2024 mid-air emergency involving a new Alaska Airlines ALK.N 737 MAX 9 missing four key bolts.