The chief of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) engaged in discussions with airline executives on Wednesday, urging them to enhance safety protocols and facilitate the sharing of crucial information.

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker convened a meeting with airline CEOs, emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement in safety management systems and transparent information-sharing to minimize risks and promote safety advancement. This meeting followed the FAA’s recent grounding of 171 Boeing MAX 9 aircraft after a mid-air cabin panel incident on a new Alaska Airlines plane.

Preliminary findings by the National Transportation Safety Board indicated that the plane may have been missing four critical bolts upon leaving the Boeing factory. Whitaker informed lawmakers about heightened oversight measures being implemented for Boeing.

Participating airlines included American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, UPS, and FedEx. These carriers exchange information on maintenance issues through the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST), a collaborative initiative between the government and the aviation industry established in 1997.

In January 2023, the FAA proposed extending the requirement for Safety Management Systems (SMS) to charter, commuter, air tour operators, and aircraft manufacturers. SMS involves proactive identification and mitigation of potential operational hazards.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed full support for expanding FAA oversight across the industry. United CEO Scott Kirby echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the effectiveness of safety partnerships.

While U.S. airlines have been implementing SMS since 2018, the proposed FAA rule aims to formalize SMS adoption for aircraft manufacturers, going beyond legislative requirements set in 2020. SMS encompasses safety policy, risk management, assurance, and promotion components.