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☆ Another accident like Boeing’s door plug blowout could happen again, NTSB chair says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, says that the problem that resulted in a door plug blowing out of a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet minutes into a January 5 flight could happen again. “There is no way that this plane should have been delivered with four safety critical bolts missing,” she said. “There’s a problem in the process.”Despite her harsh assessment of this incident, Homendy said she wouldn’t hesitate flying on a 737 Max 9 herself. “I think there is a quality control problem,” she said. “That’s exactly what we’re digging in on right now… to see where there are deficiencies to make sure this doesn’t reoccur.”

Persons: Jennifer Homendy, ”, CNN’s Poppy Harlow, “, Homendy, Max, Michael Whitaker, it’s, ” Homendy Organizations: New, New York CNN, National Transportation Safety, Boeing, Max, CNN, Alaska Airlines, Federal Aviation, FAA Locations: New York, Alaska

☆ FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker on Boeing: We're convinced this is a safe production system
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFAA Administrator Michael Whitaker on Boeing: We're convinced this is a safe production systemCNBC’s Phil LeBeau and FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker join 'Squawk Box' to discuss the latest developments in the FAA's investigation into Boeing's safety culture, increasing safety inspectors at Boeing plants, quality concerns at Spirit Aerosystems, and more.

Persons: Michael Whitaker, We're, Phil LeBeau Organizations: Boeing

Bolts that helped secure a panel to the frame of a Boeing 737 Max 9 were missing before the panel blew off the Alaska Airlines plane last month, according to accident investigators. The report included a photo from Boeing, which worked on the panel, which is called a door plug. In the photo, three of the four bolts that prevent the panel from moving upward are missing. The investigators said that the lack of certain damage around the panel indicates that all four bolts were missing before the plane took off from Portland, Oregon. A text between Boeing employees who finished working on the plane after the rivets were replaced included the photo showing the plug with missing bolts, according to the report.

Persons: David Calhoun, ” Investigators, Max, Michael Whitaker, —, “ what’s Organizations: Boeing, Max, Alaska Airlines, National Transportation Safety, Pilots, NTSB, ”, Alaska, United Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Spirit Locations: Portland , Oregon, Boeing’s, Seattle, Alaska

☆ FAA chief vows 'boots on the ground' at Boeing until quality control system is working
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"Until we're comfortable that the [quality assurance] system is working properly ... we're going to have boots on the ground," he said. United, which has 79 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes in its fleet, more than any other carrier, said Monday it's assuming the planes will remain grounded through the end of January. He said United is taking the larger variant, the 737 Max 10, out of its fleet plans, because of lengthy delivery delays. Those accidents involved the 737 Max 8, a smaller variant of the same aircraft family. This photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board shows the door plug from Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Portland, Ore. National Transportation Safety Board via AP

Persons: Michael Whitaker, Drew Angerer, —, Mike Whitaker, Max, We've, Whitaker, It's, John Lovell, they've, Scott Kirby, Ben Minicucci, Stan Deal Organizations: Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Commerce, Science, Capitol, Getty, Getty Images WASHINGTON, CNBC, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, National Transportation Safety Board, National Transportation, AP, Max, Airlines, NBC, Deal, Transportation Locations: Washington ,, Alaska, Portland , Oregon, Renton , Washington, Portland , Ore

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted 98-0 to approve President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday, ending a span of nearly 19 months in which the agency was without a Senate-confirmed chief. Michael Whitaker is a former deputy FAA administrator and most recently served as chief operating officer of a Hyundai affiliate that is developing an air taxi. Whitaker's confirmation seemed assured last week, when members of the Senate Commerce Committee endorsed him unanimously. The nomination of Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington languished for months, then failed to get out of the Commerce Committee because of opposition from Republicans and independent Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. The FAA has been without a Senate-confirmed administrator since March 2022, when Stephen Dickson stepped down midway through his five-year term.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Michael Whitaker, Whitaker, Whitaker's, Maria Cantwell, Phil Washington, Stephen Dickson Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Federal Aviation Administration, Hyundai, Senate, Denver International, FAA Locations: Arizona

☆ Key Republican backs Biden nominee to head FAA
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) departs the U.S. Capitol building on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - A key Senate Republican said Thursday he plans to support the White House nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as the agency addresses a series of near-miss incidents and air traffic controller staffing shortages. "The FAA is in desperate need of independent leadership willing to challenge the status quo," said Senator Ted Cruz, the top Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee in a statement to Reuters. He said Whitaker "has expressly committed to focus on the FAA's primary responsibility, which is ensuring the safety of our national aerospace." Reporting by David Shepardson Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ted Cruz, Nathan Howard, Joe Biden, Michael Whitaker, Barack Obama, Whitaker, David Shepardson, Bernadette Baum Organizations: U.S . Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, White House, Federal Aviation Administration, Hyundai, FAA, Senate, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, KS

☆ FAA must address US air traffic staffing crunch, nominee says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 4 (Reuters) - The Biden administration's nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Wednesday the agency must address a persistent air traffic controller shortage that has caused flight delays. Nominee Michael Whitaker, a former deputy FAA administrator, told the Senate Commerce Committee he would support opening a second air traffic controller academy to address staffing. The FAA has been without a Senate-confirmed administrator for 18 months after the prior nominee withdrew. U.S. airlines have expressed growing frustration with air traffic staff shortages. Whitaker told the confirmation hearing he was not involved in the certification of the Boeing (BA.N) 737 MAX when he was deputy FAA administrator.

Persons: Ronald Reagan, Evelyn Hockstein, Biden, Michael Whitaker, Whitaker, David Shepardson, Mark Porter, Rami Ayyub Organizations: Travelers, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, REUTERS, Rights, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Senate, New York, U.S, Boeing, Congress, Thomson Locations: Ronald Reagan Washington, Arlington , Virginia, U.S, New York City, New, New York

☆ Biden picks former aviation official to head FAA
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Marco Bello/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 7 (Reuters) - The White House said on Thursday President Joe Biden is nominating a former senior aviation official to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that has been without a permanent head since April 2022. Biden is tapping Michael Whitaker, currently chief commercial officer for Supernal, a Hyundai company developing an electric air vehicle, who served as a deputy FAA administrator under President Barack Obama. "He knows aviation, he knows safety, he knows the FAA and he knows how to manage and modernize large organizations," he said. Biden's prior nominee to head the FAA Phil Washington withdrew in March after critics said he lacked aviation experience. The Air Line Pilots Association praised Whitaker's nomination and said the FAA needed "permanent, stable leadership that is safety-focused."

Persons: Marco Bello, President Joe Biden, Biden, Michael Whitaker, Barack Obama, Steve Dickson, Mike Whitaker, Pete Buttigieg, Biden's, FAA Phil Washington, Whitaker, Whitaker's, David Shepardson, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: American Airlines, Miami International Airport, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, REUTERS, Rights, President, Hyundai, Southwest Airlines, Boeing, Cessna, Reuters, Transportation Safety, TWA, United Airlines, Flight, Foundation, The Air Line Pilots Association, Airlines for America, National, Thomson Locations: Florida, Miami , Florida, U.S, San Diego ., San Diego

☆ US to 'beat up' airlines when necessary for passengers - transport chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. airlines have sparred with the administration in recent years over responsibility for flight delays, passenger rights, landing slots and other issues. President Joe Biden has often criticized airlines, saying in February "airlines can’t treat your child like a piece of baggage." While Buttigieg works with airlines when possible, he added: "We're going to beat 'em up when we think that's important to get passengers a better deal." United Airlines (UAL.O) CEO Scott Kirby recently suggested the Federal Aviation Administration had "failed us" before changing his tone. The Transportation Department plans to propose new rules requiring airlines compensate passengers for significant flight delays or cancellations when carriers are responsible.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, Biden, We're, Buttigieg, Joe Biden, Scott Kirby, Michael Whitaker, David Shepardson, Jamie Freed Organizations: . Transportation, Reuters, U.S, Federal Aviation Administration, United Airlines, United, Southwest Airlines, Transportation Department, FAA, Thomson

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