US regulator considers stripping Boeing's right to self-inspect planes (on.ft.com)

Article summary

The US regulator is considering stripping Boeing's right to self-inspect planes. The discussion revolves around the effectiveness of self-inspection and the potential consequences of removing this right. Some argue that self-inspection is not sufficient to ensure safety, while others believe that the current system works fine. The regulator's consideration is likely a response to recent incidents involving Boeing planes.

Main themes

• Aerospace regulation
• Self-inspection vs independent inspection
• FAA expertise and capacity
• Boeing's safety record
• Regulatory effectiveness
• Industry self-regulation

What commenters say

• Boeing's self-inspection process is flawed and should be replaced with independent inspections to ensure safety.
• Removing Boeing's self-inspection right would be impractical and costly, and the current system works fine.
• The FAA lacks the expertise to inspect planes, making it difficult to implement independent inspections.
• Self-regulation has failed in other industries, such as finance, and is likely to fail in the aerospace industry as well.
• Independent inspections could be conducted by third-party auditors, such as accounting firms, rather than the government.
• The issue with Boeing is not just inspection, but also systemic problems with software, training, and quality control.
• Regulating the regulators is necessary to ensure that they are effective and trustworthy.