The Federal Aviation Administration has allowed Boeing to once again issue airworthiness certificates for its 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The decision, announced by the U.S. government on Friday, restores a key authority that had previously been taken away from the manufacturer.
The move is widely seen as a sign of renewed confidence in Boeing from federal regulators. Airworthiness certificates are a critical step in delivering new aircraft, so the change could help streamline parts of the handoff process for two of Boeing’s most important commercial jet programs.
The 737 Max is Boeing’s bestselling narrow-body aircraft, while the 787 Dreamliner is one of its flagship long-haul models. With the certification authority returned for both families, the company regains a notable measure of responsibility in the approval process for planes coming off its production lines.
The FAA’s decision marks an important development for Boeing as it works under continued regulatory attention. By restoring this power, the government is signaling that the company can again take on a role it had lost, at least for these aircraft programs.
