Boeing 737s need faster crack inspections after FAA finds old rules too slow

The US aviation regulator is proposing to shorten the time between inspections for cracks in the fuselage skin of certain Boeing 737-700 and -700C airplanes. This means airlines will have to check these planes for cracks more often than before.

The FAA is admitting that its previous rules for inspecting these planes were not strict enough to catch potential problems. This change forces airlines to increase maintenance frequency, which adds to their operating costs for these specific aircraft. It also highlights a pattern where regulators tighten safety rules only after finding that existing ones are insufficient.