WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The head of the Federal

Aviation Administration told a U.S. House subcommittee Tuesday

that safety culture improvements at Boeing ( BA ) may take three

to five years to complete.

"It is not a six month program -- it is a three-year to

five-year program," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said, adding

he has spoken to Boeing ( BA ) CEO Kelly Ortberg and the company's

board of directors about the need for safety culture reforms. He

said Boeing ( BA ) has made significant improvement in the short term.

"On culture it is a long-term project."