April 23 (Reuters) - Spirit AeroSystems ( SPR ) said

Boeing ( BA ) would give it advance payments of $425 million and

help it address issues like higher levels of inventory and lower

cashflows after the U.S. aviation regulator capped the

planemaker's 737 MAX production.

The agreement announced by Spirit on Tuesday comes amid

talks between the two for Boeing ( BA ) to buy the fuselage supplier, a

former subsidiary, and as the planemaker tries to get control of

a sprawling crisis sparked by a mid-air panel blowout in January

on a new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9.

Under the deal, Spirit will maintain a production rate that

supports Boeing's ( BA ) contractual production demand.

Boeing ( BA ) said it continues "to work together with Spirit to

improve quality, stabilize operations and support our

customers."

Spirit, one of the industry's major manufacturers of large

aircraft structures, has struggled with cash flow problems over

the past few quarters and quality issues surrounding the

fuselages it makes for Boeing's ( BA ) 737 narrowbody jets.

Spirit will also provide to Boeing ( BA ) specified financial

information on a weekly basis.

The deal would also help navigate lower expected deliveries

to Boeing ( BA ) due to the Federal Aviation Administration decision to

cap the planemaker's 737 production rate at 38 planes per month

and higher factory costs to maintain rate readiness and

production quality.