CHICAGO, Dec 6 (Reuters) - The head of the Federal

Aviation Administration is working to streamline aircraft

certification and strengthen oversight of Boeing ( BA ) in the

aftermath of an in-flight emergency in January.

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in an interview the

agency is also restructuring how it approaches its broader

aviation oversight after a door panel missing four key bolts

flew off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 in January.

Whitaker said he is reviewing the aircraft certification

process.

"We're reviewing that to make sure we're getting the right

stuff and we have the right tools to understand it, and maybe

injecting ourselves earlier in the process to understand what's

happening is going to be more effective," Whitaker said, adding

the FAA is working to use "better technology" to help streamline

the process.

At one point, Boeing ( BA ) hoped to get the MAX 7 certified in

2022 but has faced a series of issues. Boeing ( BA ) in January

withdrew its request for a safety exemption to address an engine

de-icing issue. Whitaker told Reuters he thought Boeing ( BA ) would

submit a proposed de-icing fix as soon as this month.

Boeing ( BA ) declined to comment.

The MAX 7 must be certified before the FAA can certify the

larger MAX 10. Delays have prompted airlines to push back

delivery timetables. Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci told

Reuters in September he does not expect to receive 737 MAX 10s

until at least mid-2026.

The FAA has drastically boosted oversight of Boeing ( BA ), moving

away from being "too hands off" to more in-person inspections in

what Whitaker calls a "permanent change."

"I think we've ramped up the level of oversight," he said.

"The inspection points need to be focused on the key parts of

that production process."

Whitaker revamped an agency committee on oversight to meet

more often and include more senior officials. The FAA is moving

to "continuously review our oversight models" for Boeing ( BA ),

airlines, air traffic controllers and others -- a new approach

that "should give us a more agile oversight approach and prevent

what may have been happening in the past."