FAA Expands Landing Gear Inspections to Boeing 737 and 757 Fleets

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Key Takeaways

• FAA expands mandatory landing gear inspections for Boeing 737 and 757 starting July 2025 across U.S. airlines.
• Airlines and maintenance providers must perform detailed, frequent inspections detecting wear, rust, and assembly errors.
• New rules may cause more flight delays; noncompliance risks fines and grounded planes.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a major change that will affect airlines, maintenance providers, and passengers across the United States 🇺🇸. As of July 2025, the FAA is expanding landing gear inspections for Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft. This update comes after several incidents and findings of improper maintenance at key repair facilities. The new rules are designed to make sure that every Boeing 737 and 757 in the U.S. fleet is safe to fly, and that any possible problems with landing gear are found and fixed quickly.

Let’s break down what’s changed, who is affected, what needs to be done, and what this means for everyone involved.

FAA Expands Landing Gear Inspections to Boeing 737 and 757 Fleets

Summary of What Changed

On July 8, 2025, the FAA published two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) that require all U.S. airlines operating Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft to follow new, stricter landing gear inspection rules. These rules are a direct response to Boeing’s Alert Requirements Bulletins (ARBs) from January 2025, which first warned operators to check their landing gear more carefully. The FAA’s new rules make these checks mandatory, not just recommended.

The expanded inspections are not just more frequent—they are also more detailed. Airlines must look for signs of wear, rust, and any mistakes in how the landing gear was put together or serviced. This is a big change from the older, less frequent checks, and it covers about 2,200 aircraft in the United States 🇺🇸.

Who Is Affected

Airlines: Every U.S. airline that flies Boeing 737 or 757 planes must follow the new inspection rules. This includes both large and small carriers.
Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Facilities: These are the companies and teams that do the actual work on the planes. They must now follow stricter rules and keep better records.
Pilots and Crew: While not directly responsible for the inspections, they rely on the safety of the aircraft and may face more delays as planes are taken out of service for checks.
Passengers: Travelers may notice more flight delays or cancellations as airlines take planes out of service for these new inspections.
Boeing: As the maker of the 737 and 757, Boeing is involved in supporting airlines and maintenance teams with technical guidance.

Effective Dates

July 8, 2025: The FAA published the NPRMs, starting the process for the new rules.
Next 60 Days: The rules are open for public comment and industry feedback. After this period, the FAA is expected to finalize and enforce the new inspection requirements.
Compliance Window: Airlines will have a set period (to be confirmed by the FAA) to complete the first round of expanded inspections and report their findings.

Required Actions for Airlines and Maintenance Providers

To comply with the new FAA rules, airlines and their maintenance teams must:

Review the FAA’s NPRMs and Boeing’s ARBs: Make sure everyone understands what the new rules require.
Schedule and Perform Inspections: Every Boeing 737 and 757 must be inspected according to the new, stricter guidelines. This means checking for any signs of wear, rust, or mistakes in how the landing gear was put together.
Document Everything: Every inspection must be carefully recorded. If any problems are found, they must be reported to the FAA right away.
Fix Any Problems: If the inspection finds anything wrong, it must be fixed before the plane can fly again.
Submit Proof of Compliance: Airlines must send the FAA a certificate showing they have completed the inspections and fixed any problems.
Upgrade Training and Tools: Maintenance staff need extra training to follow the new rules. Many airlines are also buying new automated inspection systems and diagnostic tools to help with the work.
Stay Updated: Airlines must keep an eye out for any further updates from the FAA and adjust their procedures as needed.

Implications for Pending Applications and Ongoing Operations

For airlines with pending applications to add new Boeing 737 or 757 aircraft to their fleets, the new inspection rules will apply right away once the rules are finalized. This means:

New Aircraft: Any new Boeing 737 or 757 added to a U.S. airline’s fleet must pass the expanded inspections before entering service.
Leased Aircraft: If an airline is leasing a Boeing 737 or 757, it must make sure the plane has passed the new inspections before it can be used for commercial flights.
Ongoing Operations: Airlines must plan for more downtime as planes are taken out of service for inspections. This could mean adjusting flight schedules, finding replacement aircraft, or even canceling some flights.

Why the Change Was Needed

The FAA’s decision to expand landing gear inspections for Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft is not random. Over the past two years, there have been several high-profile incidents involving landing gear failures. Investigations found that some Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities were not following proper procedures. This raised serious concerns about the safety of these aircraft.

Boeing responded in January 2025 by issuing Alert Requirements Bulletins (ARBs), which recommended immediate and thorough inspections. However, these recommendations were voluntary. The FAA’s new rules, published in July 2025, make these inspections mandatory for all U.S. airlines.

Details of the New Inspection Rules

Scope: All U.S. airlines operating Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft must follow the new rules.
Frequency: Inspections must be done more often than before. The exact schedule will be set by the FAA when the rules are finalized.
Depth: Inspections must be more detailed, looking for signs of wear, rust, and any mistakes in how the landing gear was put together or serviced.
Documentation: Every inspection must be carefully recorded, and any problems must be reported to the FAA.
Penalties: Airlines that do not follow the new rules could face fines or have their planes grounded until they comply.

Operational Impact

The new inspection rules will have a big impact on how airlines operate:

Increased Costs: Airlines will need to spend more money on maintenance staff, training, and new inspection tools.
Flight Delays: More planes will be taken out of service for inspections, which could lead to more flight delays or cancellations.
Technology Investments: Many airlines are buying automated inspection systems and advanced diagnostic tools to help with the new requirements.
Training: Maintenance staff need extra training to make sure they follow the new rules correctly.

Industry and Expert Reactions

FAA: The agency says these new rules are necessary to keep passengers safe and maintain trust in air travel. The FAA has made it clear that safety comes first, even if it means more work and higher costs for airlines.
Boeing: The company supports the new rules and is helping airlines and maintenance teams understand and follow the new inspection procedures.
Airlines: While airlines agree that safety is important, they are worried about the extra costs and the challenge of keeping enough planes in service. Some airlines are asking the FAA for more time to comply or for help paying for new inspection tools.
Maintenance Providers: These companies are under more pressure to do their work correctly and keep better records. They may also need to hire more staff or invest in new technology.

What This Means for Passengers

If you are planning to fly on a Boeing 737 or 757 in the United States 🇺🇸, you may notice more flight delays or cancellations as airlines work to meet the new inspection rules. However, these changes are designed to make sure every plane is safe to fly. Airlines may also use their compliance with the new rules as a way to show passengers that they take safety seriously.

Step-by-Step Guide for Airlines

Here’s a simple checklist for airlines to follow:

Read the FAA’s NPRMs (published July 8, 2025) and Boeing’s ARBs (from January 2025).
Schedule inspections for all Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft.
Perform detailed inspections as required by the new rules.
Record all findings and report any problems to the FAA.
Fix any issues found during inspections.
Send proof of compliance to the FAA.
Train staff on the new inspection procedures.
Invest in new tools if needed to help with inspections.
Watch for further updates from the FAA and adjust as needed.

Multiple Perspectives

Regulators: The FAA believes these changes are needed to prevent accidents and keep the public safe.
Airlines: Support the goal of safety but are worried about the cost and the impact on flight schedules.
Maintenance Providers: Must improve their work and record-keeping to meet the new standards.
Passengers: May face more delays but can feel safer knowing that planes are being checked more carefully.

Looking Ahead

The FAA has said it will keep watching how airlines and maintenance providers handle landing gear inspections. If more problems are found, the agency may expand these rules to cover other types of aircraft. The FAA is also thinking about more changes to fix bigger problems in the maintenance industry.

Where to Find More Information

For the latest updates and official documents, visit the FAA’s official website. Airlines and maintenance providers can also call the FAA Safety Hotline at 1-866-TELL-FAA (1-866-835-5322) for help. Boeing offers technical support through its official channels for questions about the ARBs and compliance.

Key Takeaways and Next Steps

Safety First: The FAA’s new rules are designed to make sure every Boeing 737 and 757 is safe to fly.
Act Quickly: Airlines must start planning now to meet the new inspection requirements.
Stay Informed: Watch for updates from the FAA as the rules are finalized and enforced.
Invest in Training and Tools: Maintenance teams need extra training and better tools to do the job right.
Expect Changes: Passengers may see more delays, but these are a sign that airlines are taking safety seriously.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, these expanded landing gear inspections are one of the most important regulatory changes in recent years for the U.S. aviation industry. They show a strong commitment to safety and may set a new standard for how airlines and maintenance providers handle aircraft inspections in the future.

For anyone involved in flying, maintaining, or traveling on Boeing 737 or 757 aircraft, the message is clear: safety comes first, and everyone must do their part to keep the skies safe.

Learn Today

FAA → Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. agency regulating civil aviation safety and standards.
NPRM → Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, a public document proposing new federal regulations.
Landing Gear → Aircraft components supporting the plane during takeoff, landing, and ground operations.
Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) → Facilities responsible for aircraft servicing, repairs, and upkeep.
Alert Requirements Bulletin (ARB) → Manufacturer-issued notice recommending urgent safety inspections or actions on aircraft.

This Article in a Nutshell

Starting July 2025, FAA mandates stricter landing gear inspections for Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft, enhancing flight safety nationwide. Airlines and maintenance teams must comply with new detailed checks, documentation, and repairs. This change prioritizes passenger safety despite causing potential flight delays and increased costs across U.S. aviation.
— By VisaVerge.com