WASHINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation

Administration said on Friday it will open a new safety review

into Boeing ( BA ) as the agency continues aggressive oversight

of the U.S. planemaker after an in-flight emergency in January

The new review will probe issues like risk-assessment

quality, resource allocation, and adherence to regulatory

requirements, and is expected to take three months, the FAA

said. An FAA spokesperson said the agency plans regular reviews

of Boeing ( BA ).

Last week, the Transportation Department's Office of

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

saying the agency does not have an effective system to oversee

the planemaker's individual manufacturing facilities.

Boeing ( BA ) did not immediately comment.

The FAA said Friday it was reviewing Boeing's ( BA ) operational

safety processes "to ensure they meet FAA requirements and

result in timely, accurate safety-related information for FAA

use" and said it was "part of our aggressive oversight to ensure

Boeing ( BA ) has the right tools to sustain lasting changes to its

safety culture."

An FAA audit of Boeing ( BA ) completed in February found 97

incidents of noncompliance, spanning "issues in Boeing's ( BA )

manufacturing process control, parts handling and storage, and

product control," according to a U.S. Senate report, adding that

the FAA found 23 examples where employees "failed to follow

processes or lacked proficiency."

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker, who has regularly vowed to

hold Boeing ( BA ) accountable for safety lapses, said last month

safety culture improvements at Boeing ( BA ) may take three to five

years to put in place.

The FAA's oversight of Boeing ( BA ) came under new scrutiny after

a door plug missing key bolts blew off a new Alaska Airlines

737 MAX 9 jet at 16,000 feet (4,880 meters) in January,

prompting the Justice Department to open a criminal

investigation and the FAA to open a separate probe.

A series of reports in recent years have raised concerns

about the FAA's oversight of Boeing ( BA ). Last month, a U.S. Senate

panel investigating Boeing's ( BA ) culture faulted oversight by the

agency.

Whitaker said last month he would revamp the FAA's own

safety management program. He said in June the agency was "too

hands-off" in oversight of Boeing ( BA ) before January.

The FAA chief took the unprecedented step in January of

barring Boeing ( BA ) from expanding 737 MAX production until he is

satisfied they have made significant quality improvements.