The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Friday that Boeing has regained the ability to independently issue airworthiness certificates for its 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner aircraft. This authority had been withdrawn from the manufacturer following fatal crashes involving the 737 Max that occurred in 2018 and 2019.
The FAA indicated last September that Boeing could begin certifying its own aircraft under a limited arrangement, with the agency and Boeing alternating responsibility on a weekly basis for issuing airworthiness certificates on select models. This phased approach allowed regulators to monitor the manufacturer’s compliance with certification standards while gradually restoring its autonomy.
After eight months of this shared oversight arrangement, the FAA determined that quality findings were comparable regardless of whether Boeing or the agency conducted the certification process. Based on this assessment, the regulator concluded it was safe to return full certification responsibility to Boeing for these aircraft models.
Boeing acknowledged the decision in a statement, pledging to maintain strict oversight from the FAA while continuing to manufacture commercial aircraft that meet all applicable airworthiness requirements. The restoration of certification authority represents a significant milestone for the manufacturer, which has faced multiple safety incidents and regulatory scrutiny over recent years, including a 2024 incident when a door plug separated from a 737 Max 9 aircraft shortly after takeoff.
The decision underscores Boeing’s importance as a major U.S. exporter and signals the FAA’s assessment that the company has demonstrated sufficient quality control improvements to manage the certification process independently once again.