Ethiopian 737 Max 8 crash and Fallout

[serfty]

Rachel Maddow tonight reporting ""U.S. officials have said the federal government’s recent shutdown also halted work on the (Max8) fix for five weeks."

Not that the 'shutdown' was that long in the scheme of things involving aircraft design ... but why?

 

[NZflygirl]

It halted work on the fix for the MAX after the Lion Air crash. Also delays as Boeing and the FAA disagreed on how extensive the fix needed to be. The original date for the fix being implemented was earlier than April. (Jan??)

Meanwhile Ethiopian crashed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This is going OT for this thread. However, Air Canada don't owe you anything here. This is a choice you're making. There is zero conclusive evidence that suggests the two crashes are linked.

Safety is supposed to be the priority. We buy tickets on that basis. No airline can state the MAX8 is safe. They don't know. We don't know. While AC may not need to re-route passengers, I'd say a full refund is fair. To argue otherwise may come up against contract or consumer laws.

 

[dajop]

Interestingly, my employer (US based company) has issued travel restrictions that employees should not fly on 737 MAX8 and asking people to rebook existing bookings on the aircraft. We are not a major corporate but I wonder how long before some big customers of UA, AA and WN start withdrawing support.

 

[NZflygirl]

WOW - somehow I'm feeling that there may be a grounding, which would actually open way more re-booking options. Can flight attendants refuse to work a specific plane? what would happen to them? What a legal mess. I also think that the legal exposure to both Boeing and any airline still flying the Max 8 is potentially bankruptcy size - isn't it just better to ground these planes from multiple perspectives?

And it's in. Canada grounded 737 MAX 8 & 9 on the basis of satellite data showing similarities to Lion Air. No Boeing 737 Max 8s can fly into, out of, or over Canada: transport minister | CBC News

Black boxes going to Germany.

 

[pauly7]

Sure

And it's in. Canada grounded 737 MAX 8 & 9 on the basis of satellite data showing similarities to Lion Air. No Boeing 737 Max 8s can fly into, out of, or over Canada: transport minister | CBC News

Black boxes going to Germany.

Surely the US and US carriers have to follow now...

This map is interesting now only shows US:

Watch Boeing's Max 8s drop off the map as countries around the world grounded them

 

[Must...Fly!]

Just in - 737 MAX grounded in USA.

Announced by Trump. Wonder if he has used the presidency to push the FAA in to action. Not sure - but if so - WELL DONE.

EDIT: Statement from Boeing. Pretty clear their hand was forced.

Boeing Airplanes on Twitter

 

[NZflygirl]

Sure


Surely the US and US carriers have to follow now...

This map is interesting now only shows US:

Watch Boeing's Max 8s drop off the map as countries around the world grounded them

Done. Trump issuing emergency order. FAA will say something soon.

Really intrigued what info the Canadians could get from satellites that helped influence their decision and whether any other countries had this info.

Until now I always thought it hung on the black boxes (and ATC etc).

 

[serfty]

An article I found interesting, if somewhat lacking in technical detail.

The world pulls the Andon cord on the 737 Max

 

[Deleted member 29185]

And it's in. Canada grounded 737 MAX 8 & 9

Just in - 737 MAX grounded in USA.

I'm sure @JB expat is letting go a massive sigh of relief. I think this is a very wise decision.

 

[JB expat]

And it's in. Canada grounded 737 MAX 8 & 9 on the basis of satellite data showing similarities to Lion Air. No Boeing 737 Max 8s can fly into, out of, or over Canada: transport minister | CBC News

Black boxes going to Germany.

Thank you for this. Just got up and out t for long day at work. I will be ringing them later to go over my options (again)

 

[JB expat]

I'm sure @JB expat is letting go a massive sigh of relief. I think this is a very wise decision.

Indeed. You can only imagine. Now to deal with making the changes. And now my travel insurer should cover any additional costs.

 

[RooFlyer]

Really intrigued what info the Canadians could get from satellites that helped influence their decision and whether any other countries had this info.

From the Oz ( paywalled)

Aireon LLC, a company that provides air traffic surveillance through a global network of satellites, said it provided the detailed information about the Ethiopian Airlines’ flight information in the past two days to Canadian authorities, as well as the FAA, the US National Transportation Safety Board and other authorities, after they requested the data, a spokeswoman for the company said.

The company uses equipment on satellites to track data that plane transponder transmits, including a flight’sspeed, altitude, heading, and position. Updates are provided at intervals of less than every 8 seconds to provide a global, near-real-time picture of flights. Such data can be used to reconstruct a flight path, and spot occurrences where planes fly erratically.

 

[kelvedon]

Boeing has grounded all 737 max aircraft
Boeing grounds entire crash aircraft fleet

 

[JB expat]

And which regulators will the public trust more in terms of putting people’s safety as #1? I know which countries are at the bottom of the list. Grounding based on similarities from day 1 or 2 was the right thing to do.

 

[straitman]

Boeing has grounded all 737 max aircraft
Boeing grounds entire crash aircraft fleet

See post #306 above.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Boeing has grounded all 737 max aircraft
Boeing grounds entire crash aircraft fleet

Isn't this an embarrassment. Everyone else, from clients to regulators, have stopped these aircraft flying whilst Boeing and FAA have been actively trying to downplay it (even to point of implying these others were acting without basis). Now, despite their claims the aircraft are airworthy, they ground the model themselves. Talk about "head in the sand".

It will be interesting to learn what this new evidence is (both from the crash site and the satellite data).

 

[JB expat]

And as an aside, Air Canada would have had me as a paying customer plus a $200 change fee if they had only put through my request last night. Today I’m going for a full refund so I can rebook with a better alternative. Such foolish choices by the USA and Canadian Regulators as well as the airline.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

And as an aside, Air Canada would have had me as a paying customer plus a $200 change fee if they had only put through my request last night. Today I’m going for a full refund so I can rebook with a better alternative. Such foolish choices by the USA and Canadian Regulators as well as the airline.

At just 3 weeks out and with a grounded fleet, you may struggle to match the fares you previously had. I'm not sure if travel insurance will pay the "out of pocket" expenses. They may throw this back to the airline.

 

[JB expat]

At just 3 weeks out and with a grounded fleet, you may struggle to match the fares you previously had. I'm not sure if travel insurance will pay the "out of pocket" expenses. They may throw this back to the airline.

I paid a premium for direct flights - 4 days ago I could travel cheaper with a layover. My priorities have changed!