US to inspect new 787 Dreamliners, says Boeing cannot self-certify

The US FAA Tuesday said it would perform final inspections on new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, and will not allow the planemaker to self-certify the jets. The US aviation regulator said it notified Boeing of the decision that it will retain the authority to issue airworthiness certificates until it is confident “Boeing’s quality control and manufacturing processes consistently produce 787s that meet FAA design standards.” Boeing said it “will continue to work transparently through (the FAA’s) detailed and rigorous processes... We will continue to engage with the FAA to ensure we meet their expectations and all applicable requirements.” Boeing suspended deliveries of the 787 in late May after the FAA raised concerns about its proposed inspection method. The FAA had issued two airworthiness directives to address production issues for in-service airplanes and identified a new issue in July. Deliveries have remained halted as US regulators reviewed repairs and inspections. Deliveries are expected to remain frozen months longer.<br/>