Readout of Secretary Duffy's Visit to Amazon and Boeing's Facilities in Washington
Last week, Secretary Duffy traveled to Washington to visit Boeing and Amazon.
While at Boeing, he toured the training campus and experienced the state-of-the-art simulators for both the 777-9 and 737 MAX planes alongside Boeing’s Chief Pilot. These simulators provide pilots with an immersive, near-realistic experience of sitting in the cockpit and operating an aircraft, as well as learning more about pilot training in the case of emergencies. Following the campus visit, he toured the Boeing factory, observing the factory line and learning about the plane manufacturing process. While there, he met with FAA safety inspectors, Boeing mechanics, and senior leadership. He noted the dedication of American workers assembling these planes and acknowledged the progress made toward ensuring their safety. However, he emphasized that continued scrutiny and oversight are necessary to achieve the highest standard of safety excellence.
Secretary Duffy, along with Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau, reiterated that the FAA will maintain its cap on Boeing’s production of the 737 MAX. The department remains committed to ensuring all Key Performance Indicators are met and will only lift the cap when confident that an increase will not compromise safety or quality.
Since the January 5, 2024, door plug incident, the FAA has intensified its oversight of Boeing, increasing its presence on the factory floor with additional safety inspectors at both the Renton facility and Spirit AeroSystems’ facility in Wichita, Kansas.
Secretary Duffy underscored the need for Boeing to transform its safety culture by implementing real improvements and developing a predictive safety system that identifies and mitigates emerging risks before they escalate. He affirmed that the FAA will continue holding Boeing accountable every step of the way.
The next day, Secretary Duffy visited Amazon’s Prime Air to learn about its cutting-edge drone technology and witness firsthand how drones are reshaping goods delivery. He reaffirmed the Department and FAA’s commitment to addressing safety, privacy, and national security concerns while fostering technological advancements and supporting innovation. With the nation’s airspace becoming increasingly congested, the safe integration of drones into the National Airspace System remains a top FAA priority.
The next step in drone integration is finalizing the beyond-visual-line-of-sight rule, which is currently in its final coordination phase with the FAA. This rule will establish necessary safety oversight and ensure that a variety of Unmanned Aircraft System operators, both large and small, can conduct safe and efficient operations. It will also provide the regulatory framework needed for the drone industry to achieve routine and economically viable operations.
Additionally, DOT and the FAA are developing a rule to provide businesses with greater authority and clarity in designing and building drones while upholding safety and innovation. The goal is to ensure that American drones remain globally competitive while supporting businesses in advancing this transformative technology.