Key facts
- US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy met with aerospace CEOs on Wednesday.
- The meeting focused on reforming new aircraft certification processes.
- Duffy warned that China could surpass the US in aviation innovation due to slow certification.
- The FAA proposed changes in June to streamline aircraft certification.
- Boeing's 737 MAX 7 certification took over eight years.
- The 777x certification is more than five years behind schedule.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy met with the chief executives of major aerospace companies, including Boeing and GE, on Wednesday to discuss efforts to reform the new aircraft certification process. Duffy has expressed concerns that the lengthy approval times, which can take five years or more, could allow China to gain a competitive advantage in aviation innovation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed changes to modernize and expedite the certification of new commercial airplanes. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford has been advocating for these reforms, and the agency is exploring ways to streamline the process, potentially by reducing the need for special conditions and equivalent safety findings.
Recent certification challenges, such as Boeing's 737 MAX 7 taking over eight years to approve and the 777x certification being significantly delayed, highlight the issues Duffy aims to address. The secretary also called for greater vibrancy and competition within the commercial space sector.