In 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration granted Boeing the right to self-certify its aircraft through its own quality assurance and inspections. Corporations have long argued that government regulations were in the way of innovation and progress, that if we just got government out of the way, corporations would flourish. Now we see the effects of getting government out of the way.
Since 2009, crashes, hull losses, and other incidents for Boeing have increased. From the lithium-ion battery fires on the 787 Dreamliner with significant quality-control issues, to two crashes of the 737 MAX 8 and concerns in military aircraft, National Transportation Safety Board investigators find quality-control lapses that affected Boeing aircraft.
Congress continues to question Boeing, but no legislator has demanded that Boeing stop certifying its own aircraft and that the FAA relieve them of their self-certifying status. This is akin to taking a course and having your spouse or friend grade your paper. It is unlikely that they will fail you or give a low mark. The FAA must step up and start grading Boeing’s work. How many times will the NTSB have to show us that what they are doing is not working and not making aircraft safer?
Chris Porter, Seattle