GE Aviation denies the claims in a U.S. Senate Commerce Committee report released last week that a member of its Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) unit reviewing conformity testing of the company’s new Catalyst turboprop engine—powering Textron Aviation’s new Beechcraft Denali turboprop single—was “overwhelmed by non-ODA unit duties” and not “given enough time to fulfill properly his ODA unit duties.”
The report overviewed details from whistleblowers on conflicts of interest surrounding Boeing 737 Max and 787 certification activities but also included claims that GE Aviation failed to meet its obligations to prevent interference or conflicting duties that affect the performance of authorized functions as an FAA designee surrounding the GE9X and Catalyst programs. As a result of the whistleblower claims, the Commerce Committee is calling for further reviews. The FAA further said it is limiting delegation authorities.
Addressing claims regarding Catalyst activities in a statement to AIN, GE Aviation disagreed that its ODA unit member in Prague who oversees conformity testing was unable to fully perform his ODA duties and was saddled with duties outside his capacity within the ODA. The company noted that its 17-member ODA unit includes four regulatory compliance inspectors in Europe—including Prague—all of whom are available to assist each other.
Further, GE Aviation said neither the claims of the whistleblower, GE Aviation ODA deputy administrator Richard Kucera,...
Quick Hit: On April 10, 2026, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced the first False Claims Act (“FCA”) resolution secured under its Civil Rights Fraud Initiative. The settlement resolves all...