Among the most dangerous activities in the aviation industry is the installation on an aircraft of unapproved or bogus parts – parts that have not been properly tested, approved, and certified as safe. The practice has been linked to the crash of both commercial and private aircraft. It is illegal to install uncertified parts on
FAA’s Approval of the 737 Max Questioned – But Why Now?
Both the Department of Justice and Transportation Department’s inspector general are investigating the FAA’s approval of the Boeing 737 Max and, in particular, the aircraft’s anti-stall system known as MCAS.
The FAA is supposed to ensure that Boeing aircraft are safe. Investigators want to know:
- Are the FAA and Boeing too cozy?
- Is the FAA’s
FAA Turns Over Increasing Inspection Authority to Manufacturers
Four years ago, the NTSB questioned whether manufactures like Boeing should be allowed to self-certify that their aircraft designs meet FAA requirements. The NTSB suggested that “self-certification” may have contributed to the battery fires that were being experienced on Boeing’s 787s. After all, it’s the FAA’s job to make an independent determination that an aircraft
NTSB Questions FAA’s Practice of Allowing Boeing to Self-Certify its Designs
The FAA allows Boeing to certify its own design work. That means that, at least to some extent, Boeing now regulates itself. That never seemed like such a great idea to me. Afte
r all, isn’t it the FAA’s job to make an independent determination that an aircraft design is safe? Does it make sense for the FAA
Aircraft Fuel Gauges Are Supposed To Actually Work
Running out of gas is a leading cause of piston aircraft engine failures. So you’d think that pilots would have zero tolerance for the shoddy fuel gauges installed in many aircraft, such as the ones installed in the Cirrus SR22. But instead, they tend to make excuses for the manufacturers. "It would be too expensive to make
FAA To Allow Boeing To Self-Certify Its Aircraft Designs
Aviation manufacturers have long argued that victims should not be permitted to sue for aircraft design defects because, before any manufacturer’s aircraft leaves the ground, its design has to be approved and certified by the FAA. If the aircraft’s design is good enough for the FAA’s engineers, they argue, it should be good enough for the court system. Judges