House Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the below opening statement ahead of the December 11^th House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing entitled “The Boeing 737 MAX: Examining the Federal Aviation Administration’s Oversight of the Aircraft’s Certification.” For a full video of the statement, click here.

Remarks as prepared for delivery

“Hello, I am U.S. Representative Rick Larsen, Chair of the House Aviation Subcommittee.

“Tomorrow, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold its fifth hearing on the two tragic crashes of Boeing 737 MAX airplanes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.

“With this hearing, the Committee reaches another milestone in its investigation. For the first time, the Committee will hear directly from FAA Administrator Steve Dickson.

“Since the Committee’s investigation began in March, the focus has been on the design, development and certification of the 737 MAX.

“It is increasingly clear the process by which the FAA evaluates and certifies aircraft is itself in need of repair.

“Congress must reevaluate and improve the current certification process to ensure the safety of the flying public.

“As this critical oversight work continues, what will remain at the forefront of these efforts are the 346 lives tragically lost in the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes.

“The first panel will feature FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, in his first appearance in this role before the T&I Committee. 

“The FAA must fix its credibility problem. Just like I asked Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg at the Committee’s last hearing, I expect to hear the three main mistakes the FAA made regarding the 737 MAX.

“I expect to hear from Administrator Dickson about the specific steps the FAA is taking to restore public confidence in its ability to maintain the safest aerospace system in the world.

“I also expect to hear answers on:

“The agency’s role in approving MCAS and other key flight control features on the 737 MAX, including why critical information was not adequately considered in the certification process;

“FAA’s fragmented approach to the development of related pilot training; and

“Troubling instances where FAA managers overruled safety engineers and technical experts on critical safety decisions, such as the rudder cable system on the 737 MAX and lightning protection on the 787 Dreamliner.

“Administrator Dickson will be joined by a member of the Technical Advisory Board (TAB), an independent panel which Chair DeFazio and I called for, whose job is to look over the FAA’s shoulder as the agency works on a return to service decision

“I look forward to hearing more about the current status of the TAB’s ongoing oversight of this critical process.

“The second panel will feature two former Boeing and FAA employees who are stepping forward to share their concerning experiences with questionable management decision-making that seem to prioritize economic interests over public safety.

“Their perspectives on these issues are vital to the Committee’s ongoing investigation.

“This panel will also include aviation industry experts to discuss the challenges in the aircraft certification process today and the improvements needed to ensure aviation safety.

“I am particularly interested in learning more about the integration of human factors as aviation technology becomes increasingly automated. Airplanes are changing and the federal government is not changing with those planes.

“Though 2019 is coming to an end, the Committee’s investigation is far from over.

“The 346 lives lost in the Lion Air 610 and Ethiopian Airlines 302 crashes are constant reminders of the importance of the Committee’s work and what is at stake.

“The Committee will continue to maintain safety as the guiding principle and use all available tools to ensure the safety of the traveling public.

“Thank you.”

Note: Tomorrow’s hearing will take place at 10:00 a.m. EST/7:00 a.m. PST. To watch video of the hearing, please click here.

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