The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Friday that Boeing will regain the authority to issue airworthiness certificates for all 737 MAX and 787 aircraft. This development marks a transition away from the alternating oversight structure that had been in place for the past eight months, where responsibilities were split between the manufacturer and the agency.
According to the FAA, the decision follows a period of increased monitoring where the agency found consistent production quality results regardless of which party issued the final paperwork. The regulator noted that internal performance during this trial led to the determination that the responsibility could safely return to the manufacturer.
This change impacts the final phase of aircraft delivery, allowing Boeing to ticket its own jets before they are transferred to operators. While the company will continue to operate under federal oversight, the restoration of this authority is a significant step in the manufacturer’s efforts to normalize its production processes following years of intensive regulatory scrutiny and safety investigations. Boeing stated it remains committed to meeting all airworthiness requirements as it continues to ramp up production and clear delivery backlogs for its core narrowbody and widebody programs.