WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - Democratic Senator Maria

Cantwell on Tuesday urged the Federal Aviation Administration to

address critical concerns before deciding whether to extend a

program that allows Boeing ( BA ) to perform FAA-delegated tasks

like inspections and approving repairs.

The FAA in May 2022 opted to renew Boeing's ( BA ) Organization

Designation Authorization program for three years, rather than

the standard five years, to ensure the planemaker implemented

"required improvements."

Boeing's ( BA ) quality and safety efforts have faced harsh

criticism since a January 2024 mid-air emergency involving a new

Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 missing four key bolts.