After grueling hearings on Capitol Hill, the day before the final ruling from the FAA, the House unanimously passed a bill by voice vote that reforms the plane certification process.
The bill, among other things, requires an expert panel to evaluate safety culture and recommend improvements and mandates aircraft manufacturers to adopt safety management systems and to complete system safety assessments for significant design changes. The bill awaits a vote in the Senate.
Some consumers are still concerned that the extensive recertification process and changes to software and company culture are not enough. Airlines are allowing free flight changes to passengers worried about the Boeing 737 Max, and the company is fighting to repair its reputation.