The FAA shouldn't let Boeing certify its own planes so soon

Reducing oversight while the firm ramps up production is risky

- THOMAS BLACK

The planemaker had landed in trouble for judging its own planes as air-worthy.

(AFP)

Boeing has been getting a flood of aircraft orders, partly because of White House jawboning during tariff negotiations. US President Donald Trump has championed Boeing as the driver of aerospace exports, one of the few industries in which the US has a trade surplus.

The rebound of Boeing’s finances does not hinge on capturing more orders and swelling its backlog. The planemaker’s focus now is to ramp up production and complete the certification work on new aircraft, including its 777X and 737 Max 10. Increased production will generate cash and put planes into the hands of airlines, which have been forced to fly older jets longer than they want. Increased production, including for the 787 Dreamliner, will solve most of Boeing’s problems.