The United States Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, has proposed a massive $19.7 million fine against Boeing for unapproved 737 sensors. This fine affects sensors that work with head-up guidance systems on Boeing 737 NG and MAX aircraft.

What is the proposed FAA fine all about?

The FAA announced that it had determined that hundreds of Boeing 737s were equipped with sensors that had not been approved for use with that equipment. This impacts a total of 618 Boeing 737 NGs and 173 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for a total of 791 affected aircraft.

The FAA did not, however, disclose which airlines operate these affected aircraft. As the 737 is one of the most popular narrowbody types in the world, it is hard to say which aircraft these affect among the thousands of 737s in operation.

Which systems were these sensors a part of?

According to the FAA, between June 2015 and April 2019, Boeing installed Rockwell Collins Head-up Guidance Systems on Boeing 737 aircraft. However, these guidance systems were equipped with sensors that had not been tested or approved as compatible with the aforementioned systems.

Boeing, however, did certify these aircraft as airworthy despite this. However, later, Rockwell Collins did conduct the necessary testing and risk analysis with these sensors. Those documents were updated, however, Boeing's certification of those aircraft did go against its own Business Process Instructions designed to prevent these kinds of situations according to the FAA.

Boeing's comment

Simple Flying reached out to Boeing for comment:

Boeing has cooperated with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in its investigation into the installation of the Collins Heads-up Guidance System (HGS) on the 737NG and 737 MAX. We have done a thorough internal review and implemented changes to address their concerns. The findings related to these proposed fines do not represent a safety issue. A detailed review of the HGS installation found they met or exceeded all original requirements.

Furthermore, Boeing highlighted that it was not primarily a concern about the units itself, rather, that it was a concern of documentation

At issue is insufficient documentation to validate that improved parts that provided input to the HGS were compliant with the Collins HGS certification documentation. We understand the critical importance of compliance with all documentation requirements of the FAA’s certifications. In connection with the HGS, the original certification documentation was not properly updated to reflect the improved parts installed by Boeing. We are committed to doing better.

While it may sound insignificant, documentation is a huge part of aircraft safety. From manufacture, to maintenance and operation, to scrapping, the documentation has to check out.

Boeing 737 MAX recertification drags on

The FAA's proposed fine comes as the 737 MAX recertification process continues. As it looks more and more like the type will fly in 2020, Boeing likely is hoping that this is some of the last of the FAA's fines as the 737 MAX has already lead to a significant hit to Boeing's numbers.

Overall

It is unclear how the FAA was alerted to this issue. However, the agency is reviewing a ton of information on the 737 as it works to recertify the Boeing 737 MAX. This issue does not appear to be a serious breach of safety, however, rather a documentation concern.

Nevertheless, this is another major fine that the FAA has proposed against Boeing. Previously, for nonconforming 737 MAX parts, the FAA proposed a $5.4 million fine.

What do you make of the FAA's proposed fine? Let us know in the comments!