WASHINGTON, May 23 (Reuters) - U.S. planemaker Boeing ( BA )

faces a "long road" to address safety issues, the head of the

Federal Aviation Administration said on Thursday as it prepares

to receive the company's plan to address concerns.

In late February, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker gave

Boeing ( BA ) 90 days to develop a comprehensive plan to address

"systemic quality-control issues" and barred it from expanding

737 MAX production.

Whitaker told ABC News the 90-day plan, due next week, "is

not the end of the process. It's the beginning and it's going to

be a long road to get Boeing ( BA ) back to where they need to be

making safe airplanes".