Boeing's Safety Overhaul: Key Insights from the 3rd Annual CASO Report

Boeing continues to grapple with a crisis stemming from crashes and other issues related to its 737 MAX family. These incidents have spurred numerous safety allegations and investigations by the FAA. In response, Boeing is working to restore its previously esteemed safety reputation. However, ongoing accusations persist, including claims that the company retaliated against engineer Sam Salehpour for raising safety concerns.

Boeing's New Chief Aerospace Safety Officer Report

According to a Boeing news release, the company is committed to improving its safety culture and collaborating across the industry to reduce safety risks. Reuters highlighted that an expert panel reviewing Boeing's safety management processes found a "disconnect" between senior management and employees involved in safety practices.

The CASO Report outlines Boeing's efforts to address the recommendations of the Congressionally authorized and FAA-initiated expert panel, detailing long-term actions and milestones achieved over the past year.

Mike Delaney, Boeing's Chief Aerospace Safety Officer, emphasized the company's dedication to safety: “We are entrusted with the safety of all those who fly on, use, operate, and maintain our products. Our actions are focused on making further improvements to ensure safety, compliance, and conformance of our products and services, without compromise.”

Safety Culture

In the Safety Culture section, Boeing reports a significant increase in employee engagement with safety reporting channels. Specifically, the company noted a more than 500% rise in Speak Up reporting channel submissions in the first two months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, indicating progress toward a robust reporting culture.

Boeing has also launched several initiatives to improve safety culture, including the Safety Experience at Boeing, a digital learning platform introduced in 2023, and "Just Culture Guiding Principles" to supplement leadership training introduced in 2021. Over 160,000 employees have participated in the product safety training programs.

Safety Practices

Boeing's safety management system relies on data from employees, production systems, and external sources to identify and mitigate product safety hazards. The company has established Safety Management System Boards within its business units to track and address risks.

Boeing has expanded its use of external safety data and collaborated with the FAA's Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) to develop machine-learning algorithms for identifying emerging hazards and safety trends. These algorithms are shared on GitHub, promoting transparency and collaboration.

Collaborating for a Safer Industry

Boeing has expanded its Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) programs to five additional airlines and nine customers. New CBTA courses for the Next-Generation 737, 737 MAX, and 787 have received regulatory approval. Boeing also deployed its Virtual Procedures Trainer to 16 customers, providing experiential training to complement existing programs.

Boeing reports that it has more than doubled the engagements by its Flight Operations Representatives with airline flight crews. The company claims to have worked with over 200 airline operators to develop and implement comprehensive safety solutions, supported by a team of over 140 professionals.

 Conclusion

Boeing's CASO Report outlines the company's efforts to enhance safety and promote a culture where employees feel empowered to report issues. However, the true extent of progress remains uncertain. The legacy of the 737 MAX crashes and other recent incidents continues to cast a shadow over Boeing, with potential legal repercussions still on the horizon. The transformation of Boeing's internal culture and systems is a complex, long-term endeavor.