Boeing staff members are to continue carrying out certain functions at its facilities on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
On May 30, 2025, the FAA announced that it had renewed Boeing’s Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) for three years.
According to the FAA’s own website, ODAs allow authorized parties to “issue certificates and conduct certain inspections on behalf of the agency”.
The FAA said that, before deciding to renew the program, representatives from the agency “closely monitored specific criteria and saw improvements in most areas”.
“Criteria included implementing policies prohibiting interference with ODA unit members; assessing the ODA unit’s ability to effectively self-audit and ensure follow-through of post-audit its activities; and monitoring the ODA unit’s ability to complete projects independently,” said the FAA’s statement.
The Boeing division assigned to carry out some tasks on behalf of the FAA is independent, ensuring that its members can monitor work effectively without interference.
“The FAA will continue to closely monitor Boeing’s performance throughout its renewal period,” added the agency.
The renewal, effective from June 1, 2025, will be a welcome development for Boeing, with its production procedures having been placed under increased scrutiny by the FAA since a plug door separated from an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 on January 5, 2024.
Although the final report into the incident is yet to be published, it is widely understood that the plug door was missing four key bolts designed to secure it in place.
FAA inspectors have overseen Boeing’s quality control procedures since the incident, and limits have been placed on aircraft production.
According to Reuters, FAA inspectors will continue to inspect all 737 MAX jets and 787s before issuing airworthiness certificates, rather than Boeing being permitted to do so.
The FAA added: “Separate from its oversight of the ODA unit, the FAA will continue its aggressive oversight to hold Boeing accountable to safety and ensure the company continues to improve its production quality. This includes strengthening its Safety Management System (SMS), including actions to support non-punitive safety reporting for its employees, and improving its safety culture.”
