FAA slaps Boeing with near USD3 million fine

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it is aiming to issue a US$2.7 million fine on Boeing over production issues of its 777 aircraft. According to the FAA, Boeing is using fasteners that do not meet FAA qualifications.

This is not a new problem. Five years ago in 2008, the FAA found that Boeing had been using faulty fasteners that did not meet safety standards. Boeing submitted plans to fix the fastener problem, with self-imposed deadlines, deadlines it consistently missed.

Two years later in November 2010, Boeing finally implemented a plan to fix the fastener issue, and stopped using the defective fasteners. However, according to the FAA, “underlying manufacturing issues continued to exist until after the corrective action plan was in place.” The FAA decided to seek to fine Boeing, and Boeing now has 30 days to respond.

Boeing 777 program spokeswoman, Elizabeth Fischtziur, said in an email that Boeing takes the safety of its products very seriously. A statement from Boeing says, “We implemented an enhanced corrective action management system that includes a robust database for tracking issues, additional management oversight and a series of regular meetings with the FAA.”