Written by David Koenig
A panel of outside experts says there is a “disconnect” between executives and employees regarding Boeing’s safety culture, and whether employees responsible for inspecting Boeing’s planes can raise concerns without fear of retaliation. He says he has doubts.
Aviation industry and government experts also said Boeing’s safety training and procedures are constantly changing, leading to employee confusion.
The comments were included in a report submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday. Congress ordered the investigation in 2020 when it passed a bill reforming the way the FAA certifies new aircraft in the wake of two fatal crashes involving Boeing 737 Max jetliners.
Boeing’s safety is being reexamined following last month’s explosion of an emergency door panel on an Alaska Airlines Max plane. Accident investigators said in a preliminary report that bolts used to hold panels in place were missing after the plane underwent repairs at Boeing’s factory in Renton, Washington. .
The FAA relies on employees of Boeing and other aircraft manufacturers to perform some quality reviews on behalf of the regulator. After the Max crash that killed 346 people, critics in Congress argued that administrators put undue pressure on employees to approve work done for the FAA.
“We have taken important steps to foster a culture of safety that empowers all employees to share their views,” Boeing said in a statement. But there is still much work to be done. ”
The panel of experts said Boeing has made changes that reduce the potential for retaliation against employees who report safety issues. However, it added: “Although the restructuring has improved, it still presents an opportunity for retaliation.”
The experts said they were not directed by Congress to investigate specific incidents or accidents, but that during their work “serious quality issues with Boeing products became public” and that safety-related practices were not being investigated. He pointed out that concerns that the measures were not being implemented nationwide were amplified. Boeing’s total population. ”
The panel made 50 recommendations, including that Boeing develop a plan within six months to address the experts’ concerns and submit that plan to the FAA. The committee made three recommendations to the FAA.
“We continue to hold Boeing to the highest standards of safety and work to ensure that the company comprehensively responds to these recommendations,” the FAA said.