FAA opens new oversight review into Boeing safety practices

The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday it will open a new safety review into Boeing as the agency continues aggressive oversight of the U.S. planemaker after an in-flight emergency in January The new review will probe issues like risk-assessment quality, resource allocation, and adherence to regulatory requirements, and is expected to take three months, the FAA said. An FAA spokesperson said the agency plans regular reviews of Boeing. Last week, the Transportation Department’s Office of Inspector General criticized the FAA’s oversight of Boeing, saying the agency does not have an effective system to oversee the planemaker’s individual manufacturing facilities. A Boeing spokesperson said the planemaker continues “to cooperate fully and transparently with the FAA. We support all actions that strengthen safety in aviation.” The FAA said Friday it was reviewing Boeing’s operational safety processes “to ensure they meet FAA requirements and result in timely, accurate safety-related information for FAA use” and said it was “part of our aggressive oversight to ensure Boeing has the right tools to sustain lasting changes to its safety culture.” An FAA audit of Boeing completed in February found 97 incidents of noncompliance, spanning “issues in Boeing’s manufacturing process control, parts handling and storage, and product control,” according to a U.S. Senate report, adding that the FAA found 23 examples where employees “failed to follow processes or lacked proficiency.”<br/>