Flight Safety Information - October 06, 2025 No. 199 In This Issue : Incident: Malta Air B738 at Prestwick, Edinburgh and Manchester on Oct 3rd 2025, landed below minimum fuel : Incident: India B788 at Birmingham on Oct 4th 2025, RAT deployed : Incident: Eva B789 at Taipei on Oct 4th 2025, tail scrape on go around : Incident: China Airlines A359 at Amsterdam on Oct 4th 2025, tyre deflation problem : Pilots Demand India Ground Boeing 787s to Investigate Use of Emergency System : Japan Airlines will suspend pilots if they fail liver function tests : European aviation safety at risk due to pressures on pilots and cabin crew : Passenger arrested after trying to open airplane door at Bush Airport, officials say : Delta Air Flight To Boston Makes Emergency Diversion After Fumes Fill Cockpit Just Minutes After Takeoff : Unruly passenger forces Hawaiian Airlines flight to return to Oahu : Russia’s Aeroflot to dismantle cargo aircraft for spare parts : Spirit Airlines to cut its fleet of planes nearly in half amid bankruptcy restructuring, CFO says : Boeing to raise 737 MAX production to 42 jets a month in October 2025: Bloomberg : Calendar of Event Incident: Malta Air B738 at Prestwick, Edinburgh and Manchester on Oct 3rd 2025, landed below minimum fuel A Malta Air Boeing 737-800 on behalf of Ryanair, registration 9H-QBD performing flight FR-3418 from Pisa (Italy) to Prestwick,SC (UK), was on final approach to Prestwick's runway 20 when the crew went around due to weather. The aircraft entered a hold, then attempted a second approach to runway 20 about 30 minutes after the go around, but again needed to go around. The aircraft again entered a hold, about 10 minutes after entering the hold the crew decided to divert to Edinburgh,SC (UK) where the aircraft joined the final approach to runway 24 about one hour after the first go around but again went around. The aircraft subsequently diverted to Manchester,EN (UK) where the aircraft landed on runway 23R about 110 minutes after the first go around. On Oct 5th 2025 The Aviation Herald received information that the aircraft landed below minimum fuel with just 220kg fuel (total, 100kg in left and 120 kg in right tank) remaining. The aircraft returned to service about 13 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=52dfe5d7&opt=0 Incident: India B788 at Birmingham on Oct 4th 2025, RAT deployed An Air India Boeing 787-8, registration VT-ANO performing flight AI-117 from Amritsar (India) to Birmingham,EN (UK), was on final approach to Birmingham's runway 33 when the RAT (RAM Air Turbine) deployed in flight. The aircraft continued for a safe landing. The return flight AI-114 was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in Birmingham about 17 hours after landing. The airline reported the RAM air turbine deployed on final approach which could be a sign of engine (GEnx) failure, however all engine, electrical and hydraulic parameters remained normal and the aircraft performed a safe landing. The return flight was cancelled. On Oct 5th 2025 the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) requested India's DGCA to check and investigate the electrical systems of all Boeing 787s in the country reasoning that the Aircraft Health Monitoring recorded a fault in the Bus Power Control Unit (BPCU) which may have caused the RAT to automatically deploy. The RAT deployed at 500 feet AGL on approach to Birmingham, the association stated and wrote in their letter: "It is pertinent to note that incident is another pointer towards the Air India crash of B-787 aircraft. Thus, in the interest of air safety FIP insists that DGCA must thoroughly check and investigate the electrical system of B-787 aircraft in the country." https://avherald.com/h?article=52dfd1cb&opt=0 Incident: Eva B789 at Taipei on Oct 4th 2025, tail scrape on go around An Eva Air Boeing 787-9, registration B-17881 performing flight BR-711 from Shanghai Pudong (China) to Taipei (Taiwan), was on short final to Taipei's runway 05L when the crew initiated a go around at very low height. The main gear still touched down and the tail contacted the runway surface before the aircraft began to climb again. The aircraft climbed to 3000 feet, positioned for another approach and landed on runway 05L without further incident about 15 minutes after the go around. The aircraft is still on the ground in Taipei about 28 hours after landing. The airline reported minor damage to the aircraft's tail strike protection system. The protective strip needed to be replaced. https://avherald.com/h?article=52dfcebc&opt=0 Incident: China Airlines A359 at Amsterdam on Oct 4th 2025, tyre deflation problem A China Airlines Airbus A350-900, registration B-18901 performing flight CI-73 (dep Oct 3rd 2025) from Taipeh (Taiwan) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was on approach to Amsterdam when the crew reported they had a small problem, a tyre deflation problem and requested runway 27 reasoning the runway was close to their gate. The crew subsequently also requested a tow truck to be ready and indicated they might be able to vacate the runway. ATC advised they can't have runway 27 but runway 18C or otherwise needed to divert. The crew accepted runway 18C and continued for a safe landing on runway 18C. The aircraft was able to depart for the return flight with a delay of about 90 minutes after about 4.5 hours on the ground. https://avherald.com/h?article=52df5425&opt=0 Pilots Demand India Ground Boeing 787s to Investigate Use of Emergency System The ram air turbine, used when electrical power or hydraulic pressure fails, was deployed during an Air India flight that landed safely over the weekend. The same system had been activated during a flight that crashed in June. Air India said that one of its Boeing planes used an emergency system to land in Birmingham, England, on Saturday. It was at least the second time this year the system has been used on an Air India India’s largest association of pilots has asked regulators to ground all Boeing 787s in use in India and inspect them for electrical issues after one of the planes unexpectedly deployed an emergency power system over the weekend. The device, known as the ram air turbine, drops from the fuselage when a plane loses power or hydraulic pressure, and helps power critical systems like flight controls and navigation instruments. The device deployed during Air India Flight 117, which landed safely in Birmingham, England, on Saturday. Air India, the country’s largest air carrier, said in a statement that an initial inspection had found that “all electrical and hydraulic parameters” were normal with the flight. But the pilots’ association, the Federation of Indian Pilots, called for all Boeing 787s in use in India to undergo electrical inspection after Saturday’s flight. Air India operates 34 Boeing 787s, according to a document on its website from April. “I have never heard of the R.A.T. being deployed automatically without any hydraulic loss, power loss or failures,” Capt. Charanvir Singh Randhawa, president of the association, which represents more than 6,000 pilots across India, said in an interview. Air India did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Siddhant Chauhan, a Boeing spokesperson, referred questions to India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, which did not immediately respond. The flight on Saturday was the second time since June that a ram air turbine was deployed on an Air India Boeing 787. On June 12, Air India Flight 171 also used the turbine on a flight headed to London, which crashed 30 seconds after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. The crash killed 241 of the 242 people on board, and 19 others on the ground. A preliminary report into that accident confirmed that the device activated when the plane lost power. But investigators are still working to determine whether the turbine was a symptom or a cause of the aircraft’s loss of power. Capt. Randhawa said the association had sent a letter on Sunday to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the national regulator, saying that an electrical fault could have caused the ram air turbine to deploy unexpectedly. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has yet to publicly confirm whether it will investigate Saturday’s Air India flight. The agency has also not responded to questions about the claims made by the pilots’ group. https://tinyurl.com/3td2xyck Japan Airlines will suspend pilots if they fail liver function tests Japan Airlines (JAL) said it will suspend high-risk pilots if their liver functions deteriorate beyond certain levels, as the carrier announced stricter safety measures after international flights were delayed due to a drinking incident involving a pilot. JAL submitted a set of measures to prevent a repeat of the latest case in August, in which the pilot drank alcohol and was unable to operate a flight from Hawaii to Japan. The flight he was supposed to pilot had to be delayed for about two hours, while two other flights bound for Tokyo’s Haneda airport from Honolulu were also delayed for over 18 hours. He was later fired. Pay cut for JAL executives JAL in mid-September also took an unusual step of disciplining 37 executives including its president, all board directors and executive officers, by cutting their pay, after this episode. JAL said, “Internal reforms to raise safety awareness were insufficient” despite its efforts to root out such episodes. Warning from transport ministry The lapse also prompted the transport ministry to reprimand the airline and require it to report on safety steps to avoid a recurrence, after different pilots attempted to conceal excessive preflight drinking. Six pilots have already been suspended from flying, according to JAL. While acknowledging that its measures so far against preflight drinking by pilots have not been effective, it also admitted fault for having unilaterally imposed stricter rules on its employees without proper consultation. The management team initially sought to require pilots to pledge in writing that they will steer clear of alcohol-related trouble. But the plan met internal opposition, according to people familiar with the situation. JAL said it will set up a consultative framework with labour to discuss how best to implement effective measures. Pilots say drinking alcohol helps them relax Some pilots say drinking alcohol within allowed limits can help them relax after long international flights. Others see it as part of their way to endure demanding working schedules when there are not enough pilots to keep up with the growing demand for air travel. In December, JAL banned its pilots from drinking during their stays before return flights. https://ftnnews.com/travel-news/aviation/japan-airlines-will-suspend-pilots-if-they-fail-liver-function-tests/ European aviation safety at risk due to pressures on pilots and cabin crew European aviation safety has been weakened by a range of factors, including a high-pressure environment and precarious employment practices, that, according to a new study by Ghent University, are systemic problems across both low-budget and traditional airlines. The UGent research asked 6,900 pilots and cabin crew staff about working practices and culture. It revealed that a majority (68%) of air crew are below mental health and well-being thresholds, while 78% reported feeling “dehumanised.” The research comes not long after a survey of German pilots, over 90% of whom said they had napped on duty, with one VC union chief linking the prevalence of “controlled rest period” to staff shortages and operational pressures in the aviation industry. High dehumanisation and low humanisation were reported in 2020–2021 (pilots and cabin crew) © Jorens et al. The mental health and exhaustion crisis comes at a time when experienced pilots are retiring to be replaced by younger staff who are more likely to accept poor contractual conditions and less likely to blow the whistle against decisions that affect safety. “Many people are afraid to report and do not (dare to) push back against decisions that feel potentially unsafe,” Yves Jorens, one of the study’s authors, said. In 2014, UGent found that 82% of pilots felt they could adapt instructions for safety reasons. The 2025 study sees that figure plummet to just 50% of pilots, with as many as 30% reporting hesitation over changing safety decisions due to potential career damage. As well as staff feeling too tired, pressured, and fearful for their jobs, to go against management orders, cabin crew are reporting pressure to achieve onboard sales of items such as perfume or jewellery, rather than focus on their important health and safety role. “The shift toward in-flight sales responsibilities risks diluting the safety-centric nature of cabin crew work, creating role conflict, psychosocial strain, and legal ambiguities,” the study’s authors say. Scheduling is also a cause for concern. As many as 42% of all respondents to the crew survey said that working and rest time schedules are being pushed to their limits, with flight time limitations that should be considered “the maximum time a person can fly without rest,” being treated “more like a minimum than a target,” Jorens said, adding: if employees report that “the pressure from the airline or their employment situation is too high, we have a big problem. The risk, of course, is that we have to wait until a serious accident occurs before action is taken.” https://traveltomorrow.com/european-aviation-safety-at-risk-due-to-pressures-on-pilots-and-cabin-crew/ Passenger arrested after trying to open airplane door at Bush Airport, officials say A passenger on a United Airlines flight was arrested after attempting to open a cabin door at Bush Airport. A passenger aboard a United Airlines flight was arrested Sunday evening after attempting to open a cabin door while the plane was taxiing at Bush Airport, according to airport officials. The incident happened around 6:30 p.m., officials said. The passenger’s attempt to open the door was unsuccessful, but the action deployed the aircraft’s emergency slides. Houston Police Department officers responded and took the individual into custody. In a statement, United Airlines said passengers on flight 788 landed safely and were transported by bus to the terminal. Fire officials confirmed the aircraft was fire safe, and airport operations were not impacted. United said the flight originated in Indianapolis and was arriving in Houston. The passenger’s name and any potential charges have not yet been released. https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/united-flight-passenger-arrested-houston-bush-airport/285-f8b71bd5-b512-4fd5-add2-269acda37dd9 Delta Air Flight To Boston Makes Emergency Diversion After Fumes Fill Cockpit Just Minutes After Takeoff ADelta Air Lines flight from London to Boston with 259 passengers onboard made an emergency diversion just minutes after takeoff on Sunday morning, after fumes reportedly started to fill the cockpit as the plane was still in its ascent to cruising altitude. The incident comes just days after it was revealed that the Atlanta-based carrier was replacing hundreds of ‘Auxiliary Power Units’ on its Airbus A320 series aircraft as part of a concerted attempt to prevent so-called contaminated air events. Sunday’s incident occurred on a larger Airbus A330 widebody jet, which is less than four and a half years old and delivered new from the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France, in May 2021. Delta flight DL-59 from London Heathrow to Boston Logan took off from Runway 27R at around 10 am on October 5 and started to climb to its cruising altitude, flying off the coast of Cornwall before suddenly turning back towards the UK. Onboard the plane, many passengers had little idea of why they were turning back, with the crew telling them that an unidentified mechanical issue had cropped up. Some passengers, however, soon realized something might be amiss when the aircraft made a sharp 45-degree turn over South London to get onto the correct path for final approach into landing. Once on the ground, the plane was surrounded by airport vehicles, and fire officials boarded the aircraft before passengers were eventually sent in buses to the airport terminal. There are reports that ‘fumes’ were detected in the cockpit, which would normally require the pilots to don special breathing apparatus before making preparations for an immediate diversion. In this case, the aircraft was loaded with enough fuel for a transatlantic flight, but rather than entering a holding pattern to dump fuel and lower the aircraft’s weight, the pilots decided it was safer to land as soon as possible but with additional weight. In a statement, a spokesperson for Delta commented: “Delta flight 59 from LHR to BOS on October 5 landed safely after returning to LHR due to reports of smoke in the aircraft.” “The flight will operate tomorrow, and Delta’s customer team is assisting customers with accommodations and rebooking. We apologize to our customers for the delay, but safety for our customers and crew will always be Delta’s top priority.” On September 25, the Wall Street Journal revealed that Delta had been working on a secret program since 2022 to replace the Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) on its single-aisle Airbus aircraft. The APU is a small additional engine that is located in the tail of an aircraft. It provides the plane with power while it is on the ground and is used to start the main engines. Some campaigners believe the Airbus A320 series has a known design flaw that increases the risk of cabin air becoming contaminated with dangerous pollutants such as engine oil from the APU. Older APUs are also more susceptible to a fume event, so replacing these with newer units should mitigate this risk. The APU replacement program may not, however, reduce the risk of ‘bleed air’ contamination. Most aircraft supply air to the cabin by ‘bleeding’ a small amount of air that is sucked into the aircraft engine and feeding it into the air conditioning system. Because the air is being bled off the engines, it can become contaminated with engine oils and lubricants that vaporize on a hot engine. The only commercial aircraft that does not use the bleed air system is the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Although bleed air contamination is believed to be a major source of fume events, other sources, like electrical problems or even a strong chemical cleaner, have been known to cause issues in the past. While airlines and aircraft manufacturers acknowledge that fume events can be disconcerting, they insist that the vast majority of people who are caught up in one of these incidents will only experience short-term, non-serious issues such as headaches and runny eyes. There are, however, numerous cases of victims suffering “permanent and serious injury” following a fume event. https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2025/10/05/delta-air-flight-to-boston-makes-emergency-diversion-after-fumes-fill-cockpit-just-minutes-after-takeoff/ Unruly passenger forces Hawaiian Airlines flight to return to Oahu A Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu to Seattle was reportedly diverted due to an unruly passenger. HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu to Seattle was reportedly diverted due to an unruly passenger. Flight HA22 took off from the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport at around 1:15 p.m. A passenger on board said they were two hours into the flight when an intoxicated woman was allegedly banging on the cabin doors. The passenger said the captain then turned the flight around, returning to Honolulu. The flight was delayed for five hours on the tarmac before taking off at around 9 p.m. In a statement, Hawaiian Airlines said: “Flight HA22 with nonstop service to Seattle returned to Honolulu due to a disruptive passenger who was being verbally abusive to our crew. The Boeing 787, carrying 11 crew members and 284 passengers, landed without incident at HNL, where local law enforcement removed the passenger from the aircraft. The flight resumed shortly after 9 p.m. local time and passengers were provided meal vouchers and a travel credit. HA22 is scheduled to arrive in Seattle at 5:54 a.m. local time. The safety of our crew and guests is our priority, and we apologize to our guests for this inconvenience.” Hawaii News Now has reached out to the state’s Sheriff Division and is awaiting a response. https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/10/04/unruly-passenger-forces-hawaiian-airlines-flight-return-oahu/ Airbus and Air India launch Gurugram training center to train 5,000 pilots Airbus and Air India have opened a new pilot training center in Gurugram, Haryana, India. This facility aims to train more than 5,000 new pilots over the next decade to meet the rapid growth of commercial aviation in India. The joint venture was inaugurated by India’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, along with Air India CEO Campbell Wilson and Airbus CEO of Commercial Aircraft Christian Scherer, Airbus announced in a statement on September 30, 2025. “Air India is in an expansion mode with 570 new aircraft on order and the new pilot training center at our Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram, a part of which is being executed with Airbus, will help train and upskill pilots who will fuel Air India’s ambition of becoming a world-class airline,” said Campbell Wilson, MD & CEO of Air India. The new center spans 12,000 square meters and will feature 10 Full Flight Simulators (FFSs), as well as classrooms and briefing rooms. It is designed to train pilots for the Airbus A320 and A350 aircraft families. The planemaker said the new facility will complement the four A320 family FFSs at the current Airbus India Training Center in New Delhi. Together, these two locations will have a total of 14 FFSs. In addition, Airbus said it is collaborating with local partners to provide maintenance training to support the future fleet. “This is more than a joint venture; it is a strategic investment in the future of the Indian aerospace industry itself. India is a critical base for Airbus, and this facility is a testament to our belief in its potential,” said Jürgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia. The manufacturer concluded, alongside other collaborations, the initiative is “designed to equip India’s young workforce with the competencies needed to power aerospace growth for decades to come”. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/airbus-air-india-new-pilot-training-center-gurugram Bombardier Global 7500 sets 150th speed record Bombardier’s Global 7500 jet has set its 150th speed record, the most ever set by a single business aircraft type, says the Canadian manufacturer. The latest achievements include city pair speed records, such as Tokyo to Los Angeles, Toronto to Paris, New York to London and Hong Kong to Montreal. Ranking highest amongst its earlier achievements are the longest flight ever recorded in business aviation – 8,225nm (15,233km) from Sydney to Detroit – and business aviation’s longest range non-stop mission from London City Airport to Los Angeles. “The Global 7500 continues to redefine what is possible in business aviation,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, executive vice president, Aircraft Sales and Bombardier Defense. “Many of these records have been set with passengers on board in varying conditions and airports, making these achievements even more meaningful and reaching this pinnacle more remarkable.” Boasting a top speed of Mach 0.925 and a baseline range of 7,700nm (14,260km), the Global 7500 features Bombardier’s Smooth Flĕx Wing which reduces fuel burn, lowers emissions and benefits short-field and high-speed performance. Bombardier delivered its 200th Global 7500 in December 2024. The Canadian OEM will soon introduce its new flagship the Global 8000. The aircraft is expected to have a range of 8,000nm (14,816km) and a top speed of Mach 0.94, as well an ultra-low cabin altitude. https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/news/bombardier-global-7500-sets-150th-speed-record/ Russia’s Aeroflot to dismantle cargo aircraft for spare parts Russia’s flag carrier, Aeroflot, is reportedly preparing to dismantle eight Boeing cargo aircraft to ensure the airworthiness of its passenger fleet, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service. These aircraft are believed to come from Volga Dnepr Airlines, a Russian air charter provider, under a contract valued at approximately $130 million. As part of this arrangement, six Boeing 737-800BCF aircraft and two Boeing 747-400 aircraft will be transferred to Aeroflot’s subsidiaries, Pobeda and Rossiya Airlines, through financial leasing agreements. The deal is expected to be financed using funds from Russia’s National Welfare Fund. If confirmed, this would mark the first instance of a Russian passenger airline acquiring cargo aircraft specifically for dismantling and use as spare parts. This would highlight the growing strain on Russia’s aviation industry, which is struggling to keep Western-built aircraft operational amid international sanctions. Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it was estimated that the country operated between 1,500 and 1,800 Western-made commercial aircraft. Following the imposition of sanctions by the United States and the European Union, Russian operators lost access to new aircraft, spare parts, and certified maintenance support. Because of that carriers have been forced to seek alternative and often unofficial solutions to keep their fleets operational. The practice of dismantling grounded aircraft for components, known as cannibalization, has become increasingly common. However, parts obtained through unofficial supply channels often lack manufacturer warranties or verifiable maintenance records, raising long-term safety and reliability concerns. Ukraine’s intelligence service projects that if current conditions persist, Russia’s active civil aircraft fleet could shrink by more than half by 2026. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/russias-aeroflot-to-dismantle-cargo-aircraft-for-spare-parts Spirit Airlines to cut its fleet of planes nearly in half amid bankruptcy restructuring, CFO says Spirit Airlines plans to shrink its fleet by nearly 100 aircraft and exit more than a dozen U.S. markets as part of a sweeping bankruptcy restructuring process, CFO Fred Cromer said on Friday during a virtual meeting with creditors. Spirit Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after a prolonged period of financial strain. The low-cost carrier, which Cromer said currently operates 214 aircraft, is using bankruptcy tools to eliminate unprofitable routes and reduce its network footprint. The strategy is expected to save the company “hundreds of millions of dollars” in costs, Cromer said, allowing it to “support a much smaller and stronger Spirit Airlines.” Spirit said in a statement that it filed a motion with the court on Thursday to reject 87 additional aircraft leases. “The motion is subject to court approval, and we continue to engage with key stakeholders, including our lessors, as part of our ongoing restructuring to position Spirit for the future.” Industry overcapacity among low-cost carriers combined with low passenger demand, significant downward pressure in pricing, and an influx of low-fare seats at legacy airlines led the company to bankruptcy, Cromer said. “While the industry was hopeful at the beginning of 2025 that there would be a rebound, it didn’t happen,” he said. “That obviously led to the situation that we’re in today.” He did not specify a deadline for the fleet reduction. “Today, we have 214 airplanes,” Cromer said. “We’re talking order of magnitude, reducing that by almost 100 aircraft.” In recent weeks, Spirit has announced plans to exit service at more than a dozen U.S. airports, including Hartford, Connecticut, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and suspended roughly 40 routes as part of its restructuring plan. It is not clear how many of those cuts have already been made. The company also rejected leases on 27 aircraft from lessor AerCap and terminated 12 airport leases and 19 ground handling agreements. AerCap will pay Spirit $150 million as part of the deal, which resolves their dispute over a deal covering 36 Airbus planes due for delivery between 2027 and 2028. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/03/spirit-airlines-to-cut-nearly-100-aircraft-from-its-fleet-cfo-says.html Boeing to raise 737 MAX production to 42 jets a month in October 2025: Bloomberg Boeing is reportedly preparing to raise the current production rate limit for its popular 737 MAX family from 38 to 42 jets per month, as soon as October 2025. According to Bloomberg, which cited sources familiar with the company’s plans, Boeing intends to sustain the 42-jet-per-month rate for approximately six months to ensure that its mechanics and suppliers are not overly pressured by producing an extra Boeing 737 MAX each week, before discussing the next rate increase with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). After that, the company is preparing to further increase the production rate in April 2025 and again in late 2026, anonymous sources told Bloomberg. Combined, these changes could potentially raise production to around 53 jets a month by the end of next year. Accelerating the production rate in its factories is essential for Boeing to reduce debt and enhance its financial situation. According to Bloomberg, Boeing executives have indicated that the manufacturer’s cash flow will begin to improve as 737 production increases. However, in order to boost 737 production, Boeing must still secure the FAA’s approval of the assertion that its factories in the Seattle area can sustain the higher output while maintaining quality. “Safety drives everything we do,” a US regulator said to Bloomberg, commenting on Boeing’s possible production hike. “The FAA will continue oversight of Boeing’s production processes and work with the company to determine if it can safely increase production.” In the latest developments with the manufacturer, on September 30, 2025, the Wall Street Journal reported that Boeing began developing a new single-aisle aircraft, which would eventually replace the 737 MAX. The manufacturer promptly denied this, calling the report misleading. Additionally, the FAA recently gave limited certification authority back to Boeing for the issuing of airworthiness certificates for its 737 MAX and 787 aircraft. This partial reinstatement means that Boeing and the FAA can take turns certifying newly built jets, while federal inspectors continue to be present in Boeing’s factories. The current Boeing production cap for the 737 MAX is 38 jets per month. This limit was set by the FAA in early 2024 after an incident on January 5, 2024, when a door plug separated from an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 shortly after takeoff. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/boeing-may-raise-737-max-production-42-jets CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 2025 NBAA Single-Pilot Safety Standdown; Monday, Oct. 13 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; Las Vegas, NV . 2025 NBAA National Safety Forum, Tuesday, Oct. 14 – Wednesday, Oct. 15; Las Vegas, NV . Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC™) - 2025 – October 27-29th (Omaha, Nebraska) . 78TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SUMMIT (IASS) - Lisbon, November 4–6 . 29th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown, November 11-13, 2025; Wichita, Kansas · CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada . 2026 ACSF Safety Symposium; April 7-9, 2026; ERAU Daytona Beach, FL . 2026 NBAA Maintenance Conference; May 5-7, 2026; New Orleans, LA . BASS 2026 - 71st Business Aviation Safety Summit - May 5-6, 2026 | Provo, Utah . The African Aviation Safety & Operations Summit - May 19-20 | Johannesburg, South Africa . Safeskies Australia - Australia’s renowned Aviation Safety Conference - Canberra Australia 20 and 21 May 2026 . 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) Oct. 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV Curt Lewis