FAA PROPOSES $764,250 FINE AGAINST BOEING COMMERCIAL AIRPLANE GROUP
'The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has proposed to assess a $764,250 civil penalty against the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group for allegedly violating FAA regulations, including failure to maintain quality control measures.
The FAA said it became aware in October 1999 that adhesives Boeing used to fabricate flight deck dripshields and environmental control system ducks did not meet the administration's flammability requirements. The dripshields made from 1993 to 1999 were installed in Boeing 747, 757, 767 and 777 models. The ECS ducts made from 1995 to 1999 were installed on 737, 747, 757 and 767 models.
Boeing immediately replaced or reworked the dripshields and ducts on all affected airplanes in production after October 1999. Boeing also collaborated with the FAA in February 2000 when additional issues were identified. The collaboration identified areas of improvements, including clarifying and simplifying procedures and process, additional training, striving for internal compliance and implementing metrics to gauge the results of the new processes and procedures.