FAA Safety, Aircraft Certification Focus of Senate Hearing

FAA acting administrator Billy Nolen told lawmakers that the agency continues to review new versions of the Boeing 737 Max .

Amelia Walsh

Wednesday, March 08, 2023 at 05:11 PM ET

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The Senate Commerce Committee's hearing focused on aircraft certification and FAA reform efforts in the aftermath of the Boeing 737 Max accidents. [Credit: Alejandro-Barba/Unsplash]

Key Takeaways:

The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing focusing on FAA reform and aircraft certification in the aftermath of the Boeing 737 Max accidents, which were linked to Boeing's design flaws and inadequate FAA oversight.
FAA Acting Administrator Billy Nolen detailed the agency's progress and future plans, including increased safety staffing, streamlined aircraft registration and medical processes, and enhanced whistleblower protections, while reaffirming the 737 Max's safety.
The hearing also featured continued skepticism from some senators regarding the 737 Max's safety and strong criticism of the proposed FAA administrator's lack of aviation experience.

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On March 8, the Senate Commerce Committee held its second meeting ahead of FAA reauthorization, this time focusing on aircraft certification and FAA reform efforts in the aftermath of the Boeing 737 Max accidents.

On October 28, 2018, a Boeing 737 Max operating as Lion Air Flight 610 went down 11 minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, Indonesia, killing all 189 on board. Months later, on March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Air Flight 302 crashed six minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing 157.