US FAA asks Boeing to stop expanding production of 737 MAX

According to Reuters news agency, the FAA announced that the temporary suspension of production expansion of Boeing's best-selling narrow-body aircraft, the 737 MAX, was necessary to ensure the aircraft manufacturer's accountability and compliance with quality control procedures.

“We will not approve Boeing’s request to expand production or allow the aircraft manufacturer to expand production of the 737 MAX until we address the quality control issues identified in the recent incident,” said FAA chief Mike Whitaker.

Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

According to Reuters news agency, it is not yet clear how the request to stop expanding production of the 737 MAX line will affect Boeing's production plans in the near future.

Previously, in October 2023, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said the group planned to increase production capacity to 38 737 MAX aircraft per month by the end of 2023.

According to Boeing's production schedule for the 737 MAX - a document that regulates the production levels of the supply chain, in February each year, the company plans to increase production capacity to 42 aircraft; an average of 47.2 aircraft/month in August; 52.5 aircraft/month in February 2025 and 57.7 aircraft/month in October 2025.

In a related development, on the same day, January 24, the FAA announced that after an inspection, the 737 MAX 9 aircraft that were required to temporarily stop flying after the incident of an Alaska Airlines plane's side door bursting open will be allowed to operate again.

Previously, 171 737 MAX 9 aircraft were forced to temporarily stop operations for safety checks after the above incident, causing two US airlines, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, to cancel thousands of flights.

Alaska Airlines announced that it plans to return this aircraft to service on January 26.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/faa-my-yeu-cau-boeing-dung-mo-rong-san-xuat-dong-737-max-192240125083512225.htm