Boeing has asked the US Federal Aviation Administration to delegate it with the authority to assess its own aircraft design modifications for compliance with certification requirements. The company estimates the move could save it several tens of millions of dollars in annual production costs.
Under proposals currently being discussed with the FAA, Boeing says it expects to be designated an organisational designated authority (ODA) within "a couple of years". This would allow it to take over responsibility from the FAA for reviewing design analyses of aircraft-specific modifications not covered by the original type certificate.
Under existing procedures, Boeing must submit review data to the FAA to gain unique certification for each airliner it delivers which incorporates customer-specific changes to its structure and systems.
"The FAA wants Boeing to have more control," claims Boeing chief engineer safety and certification Bob Kelley-Wickemeyer. "They just don't have the budget."
Delegating responsibility for reviewing design changes to Boeing would allow the FAA to concentrate its efforts on issuing type certificates for all-new aircraft, says Wickemeyer, while simultaneously enabling Boeing to reduce aircraft build-times.
"It allows us to organise in such a way that we can schedule work more efficiently," says Wickemeyer. "This is basically how Europe's Joint Aviation Authorities already works with Airbus."
Boeing expects its Airplane Services division, which offers airlines a range of after market maintenance and modification services, including freighter conversions, to be a major beneficiary of the proposed changes.
The FAA is currently drafting an "order" which lays down specific criteria which Boeing will have to meet before being granted ODA status, according to Wickemeyer.
Source: Flight International
