WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on investigation into safety review of the troubled Boeing 737 Max (all times local):
10:45 a.m.
President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration says safety will be his top priority if he is confirmed.
Former Delta Air Lines executive and pilot Stephen Dickson says US aviation has an enviable safety record over the past decade. But he says the industry is only as good as the last takeoff or landing.
In testimony prepared for a Senate Committee’s confirmation hearing, Dickson said Wednesday that new technology such as aircraft automation and air traffic control systems can provide benefits. But they can also bring changes to a mature safety system that need to be managed carefully.
Dickson also says making sure the FAA keeps its standing as the world’s top safety agency will be a priority if he’s confirmed.
The FAA has faced criticism for approving flight-control software for the Boeing 737 Max. Two of the planes have crashed in the past year in Ethiopia and Indonesia, killing 346 people.
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10:30 a.m.
With Congress stepping up its investigation into the troubled Boeing 737 Max airliner and how it passed regulatory safety checks, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration is testifying before a House aviation panel.
The FAA has been in the spotlight over how much autonomy it’s given to Boeing and the review process it must complete before a plane is deemed safe for public use.
Questions about the relationship between regulators and Boeing arose after two deadly crashes of the 737 Max aircraft.
House Aviation subcommittee Chairman Rick Larsen says the FAA has a credibility problem.
