The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has recently made a significant announcement regarding its relationship with Boeing, the American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes. The acting head of EASA, Luc Tytgat, stated that the agency would not hesitate to halt its indirect approval of Boeing's jet production if necessary.
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This statement comes in the wake of ongoing safety concerns surrounding Boeing's aircraft. Since January 5, when a door plug tore off a 737 MAX 9 jet in mid-air due to missing bolts, Boeing has been under increasing pressure over factory quality control. An audit of Boeing and supplier Spirit AeroSystems by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed multiple instances of poor controls.
Under a transatlantic pact, the FAA and EASA regulate the factories of their respective planemakers - Boeing and Airbus - and recognize each other's safety approvals. However, if one side loses confidence in the other's compliance checks, it can call for consultations and, if those fail, suspend recognition after a pause of 30 days. Such steps are rare, but Tytgat emphasized that "all the tools must be implementable as soon as we see the justification or situation that requires us to take appropriate measures".
Despite the stern warning, Tytgat did not see any immediate threat to Boeing's production certification. He stated, "We don't see why (it) cannot be maintained today. It is more (about) the oversight and monitoring conditions that are in place". He also mentioned that he had a reassuring discussion with senior Boeing executives, who emphasized their commitment to improving quality controls. In conclusion, while EASA has expressed its readiness to pull Boeing's approval if necessary, it also recognizes the efforts being made by the company to address the safety concerns. The situation underscores the importance of stringent safety measures and effective oversight in the aviation industry, where the stakes are incredibly high.