Boeing faces FAA investigation over safety programme

US aviation regulators are investigating Boeing after five engineers in a controversial aeroplane certification programme complained of pressure from the company. The US FAA formally asked Boeing in November 2018 to address reports from engineers in the Organization Designation Authorization programme that they had experienced “interference or conflicting duties” between their roles as Boeing employees and designated representatives of the federal agency. The revelation again puts a spotlight on Boeing’s internal culture and the ODA programme, under which the US regulator has outsourced portions of its safety review regime to the companies that it oversees. Both have come in for fierce criticism since two deadly crashes of Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft, which is currently grounded. The FAA also issued separate letters of investigation to Boeing in June 2019 and March, informing the Chicago plane maker it potentially violated regulations governing the ODA programme. The agency did not accept Boeing’s response to the first letter and is waiting for an answer to the second. Boeing said that it takes “allegations of undue pressure very seriously” and is working to resolve them with the FAA.<br/>