FAA возобновляет полномочия Boeing по самостоятельной сертификации, несмотря на признание в мошенничестве

SEATTLE- American Aerospace Giant Boeing has regained its authority to self-certify aircraft under the FAA’s Organization Designation Authorization (ODA), just weeks after admitting to criminal fraud. This decision affects aircraft certified for operations out of key hubs like Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extended Boeing’s ODA for three more years, allowing the company’s internal engineers to approve design and production changes on the FAA’s behalf—despite recent scrutiny over safety lapses and legal violations, flagged ViewfromtheWing.

Representative Photo: NTSB

FAA Renews Boeing ODA

The FAA’s renewal of Boeing’s self-certification privileges comes with heightened oversight, but critics argue it contradicts the company’s recent legal troubles.

The ODA program, established in 1956, enables companies to carry out certain regulatory functions internally to streamline the certification of aircraft and components. Boeing has been a key participant due to its scale and engineering capabilities.

The agency stated that Boeing’s renewed privileges are subject to “strict conditions and increased oversight,” including embedded FAA inspectors, rigorous staff training, and enhanced auditing of delegated functions.

These measures are intended to mitigate risks while maintaining efficiency in certifying aircraft such as the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner.

Boeing employs roughly 40,000 engineers, compared to the FAA’s 400, making complete federal oversight logistically impossible. This disparity is one reason the ODA system persists, even as its effectiveness is debated in light of past incidents.

Photo: Rawpixel

A Legacy of Culture Shift and Controversy

Boeing’s shift from an engineering-driven firm to a business-first entity began with its 1997 merger with McDonnell Douglas. Former CEO Harry Stonecipher, originally from McDonnell Douglas, once stated that transforming Boeing’s culture into a financially focused enterprise was intentional.

This transformation created distance between leadership and manufacturing operations. Boeing moved its headquarters from Seattle to Chicago in pursuit of tax incentives, and later to Arlington, Virginia, closer to federal regulators and lawmakers.

Critics argue this detachment contributed to product quality issues and a weakening of the company’s engineering integrity.

Despite significant government contracts and subsidies, particularly via the Export-Import Bank, Boeing’s financial performance has not improved proportionally. Its stock price remains at 2017 levels, trailing inflation and broader market growth.

Photo: Boeing

Economic and Regulatory Interdependence

Boeing’s reliance on government relationships extends beyond regulatory approvals. Its largest customer is the U.S. government, and many of its foreign sales are underwritten by taxpayer-backed financing.

These dynamics reinforce the company’s political importance, complicating efforts to impose harsher penalties or revoke privileges like the ODA.

The FAA’s decision reflects the agency’s limited resources and the practical need to leverage Boeing’s internal expertise. But it also highlights the challenges in ensuring accountability from a company with a mixed recent history on safety and compliance.

Quality Challenges Undermine Long-Term Value

Boeing’s ongoing quality issues have forced the company to offer steep discounts to attract airline orders. Production slowdowns, FAA investigations, and airline complaints have further strained its commercial aircraft division.

Market performance reflects these operational struggles. Boeing has failed to generate the premium pricing or market loyalty that higher-quality products typically command.

In the long term, delivering safe, reliable, and innovative aircraft, not regulatory leeway, will be critical to restoring its reputation and shareholder value.

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