ARLINGTON, Virginia, Nov 21 (Reuters) - FAA

Administrator Michael Whitaker said on Thursday he plans to soon

visit Boeing's ( BA ) Seattle offices to meet with CEO Kelly

Ortberg as the planemaker resumes 737 MAX production.

Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration said

it would boost its oversight of Boeing ( BA ) as the planemaker

prepares to resume production of its 737 MAX jets following a

53-day strike that ended two weeks ago.

"We are working closely with Boeing ( BA ) to make sure the safety

management system is driving their actions during" the restart

of production, Whitaker said, who spoke to Ortberg earlier this

month on the production plan.

Boeing ( BA ) did not immediately comment.

The FAA noted that it maintained its enhanced on-site

presence at Boeing ( BA ) factories throughout the strike "and will

further strengthen and target our oversight as the company

begins its return-to-work plan."

Whitaker capped production at 38 737 MAX planes per month in

January after a door panel missing four key bolts flew off an

Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 in flight that month, exposing serious

safety issues at Boeing ( BA ).

The FAA said in October it was opening a new safety review

into Boeing ( BA ). That month, the Transportation Department's Office

of Inspector General criticized the FAA's oversight of Boeing ( BA ).

At a holiday travel press conference at Reagan National

Airport in Arlington, Virginia, near Washington on Thursday,

Whitaker did not directly answer whether he plans to remain as

FAA administrator once President-elect Donald Trump takes office

on Jan. 20. But he said he plans to engage with the transition

team. Whitaker has a five-year term that does not expire until

2028.

"I'm looking forward to working with the incoming

(transportation) secretary," Whitaker said. "Right now, we're

focused on safety and trying to make this transition as smooth

as smooth as possible."