Ethiopian 737 Max 8 crash and Fallout

[OATEK]

There are a couple of FAA equivalents who are more than big enough to hold out. The Russians and Chinese come to mind. The EU will take a lot of convincing too, especially as there are probably tariff issues involved in the politics of it all. And whilst it could be argued that politics should play no part in this, I'd expect that they are very hard to separate....

Questions that don't seem to have answers forthcoming:
1. What is MCAS really for? The story has been that it's to make the aircraft feel the same as previous 737s. If that's the case, then you could simply remove MCAS entirely, and fly the aircraft on a different endorsement. There is a cost to that of course, but it pales into insignificance compared to what this entire saga has cost.
2. Can the aircraft be certified at all without MCAS? If it can't, then is the aircraft actually certifiable at all?
3. Has the manual trim, as fitted to the NG onwards, been properly certified, or was it simply grandfathered? Is this system, as fitted, certifiable?
4. Why isn't there a separate, backup, electric trim system, as fitted to just about everything else?

Hopefully someone is asking these questions within the FAA and foreign equivalents.

 

[woodborer]

Boeing is now rethinking the NMA
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-737max-nma/boeings-new-ceo-orders-rethink-on-key-jetliner-project-idUSKBN1ZL2RM

 

[codash1099]

Boeing is now rethinking the NMA
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-737max-nma/boeings-new-ceo-orders-rethink-on-key-jetliner-project-idUSKBN1ZL2RM

Maybe they now think they can't afford it.

 

[DC3]

... This whole process isn't just about scrutinising Boeing but all the FAA's around the world and they only have one chance to get it right.

Has anyone been able to get VA to look up and provide some forms of evidence of check in time.

Need it to prove I wasn'tdriving a rental car at a certain time.

Oh. There you are, Mogul.

Thought that you had left the building.

 

[jb747]

Maybe they now think they can't afford it.

So, it's an excuse to keep the 737 going?

I don't think they can afford not to do it. They need a 737 replacement. One that has no parts interchangeable with the original 707!

 

[coriander]

ABC is saying there will be a segment on Boeing and MAX at 730.

 

[oz_mark]

Boeing now estimates the cost of the grounding to be $18.4 billion.

Boeing reports worst full-year loss in its history, but CEO Calhoun vows ‘we’ll get through it’

One Boeing analyst called it a "kitchen sink quarter," saying that new CEO Dave Calhoun wants to put all of the company's negative news out at once. Boeing doubled its projection of the total cost of the 737 MAX grounding.

www.seattletimes.com

 

[juddles]

Boeing now estimates the cost of the grounding to be $18.4 billion.

Boeing reports worst full-year loss in its history, but CEO Calhoun vows ‘we’ll get through it’

One Boeing analyst called it a "kitchen sink quarter," saying that new CEO Dave Calhoun wants to put all of the company's negative news out at once. Boeing doubled its projection of the total cost of the 737 MAX grounding.

www.seattletimes.com

They are still being optimists/conservative

 

[jb747]

You have to wonder about the longer term. Yes, I expect it will return to service, but I doubt that that will be a simple exercise. Many passengers will remain wary of it. How big a number does that have to be before it starts affecting loadings? Who knows, but I suspect that a number as small as 5% would be enough to make the difference.

Airbus has limited ability to capitalise upon the 737s woes, simply because the 320 is booked out for years. How difficult would it be for them to increase their production capability? They already have a small assembly plant in the USA.

As I see it, after this is over, the 737 Max will still be an old aircraft, dressed up. It will be tainted to some unknown degree. It will remain a poor choice compared to the 320 NEO, and I expect that the only way Boeing will be moving large numbers of them will be to move to the bargain basement end of the aircraft market.

 

[kelvedon]

So is the Max the swan song for the 737. How long would it take Boeing to build a different competitor to the A320 ?

 

[AviatorInsight]

So is the Max the swan song for the 737. How long would it take Boeing to build a different competitor to the A320 ?

Not long I would imagine. Reopen the factory, bring out the 757 plans and get to work.

 

[OATEK]

So is the Max the swan song for the 737. How long would it take Boeing to build a different competitor to the A320 ?

The longer they wait in hope, the longer it will take.

 

[Tropic]

If only they could restart the 757 line...but sadly not an option. Really it is a complete and likely irreversible corporate failure

 

[oz_mark]

So is the Max the swan song for the 737. How long would it take Boeing to build a different competitor to the A320 ?

I think I've seen references to a 5 year time frame.

 

[jb747]

Including celebrities...

Not the seat but dirty cabin on a QF aircraft last year with a thick layer of dust on the panel:

Not long I would imagine. Reopen the factory, bring out the 757 plans and get to work.

My guess would be 5 years for the 757, and double that for anything new. This is a train that they should have been on in 2010.

Actually as this is Boeing, it would probably be longer. Have a look at the debacle that is the 767 tanker.

 

[Sabot]

My guess would be 5 years for the 757, and double that for anything new. This is a train that they should have been on in 2010.

Actually as this is Boeing, it would probably be longer. Have a look at the debacle that is the 767 tanker.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I think it's time we brought the Spruce Goose back into commission.

 

[Tropic]

And on it goes...

Software flaw the latest issue found as Boeing scrambles to fix 737 MAX

Yet another software flaw is found on the Boeing 737 MAX as the company and regulators look to get the plane back in the skies my midyear.

mobile.abc.net.au

 

[jenib]

I think the evidence is growing that Boeing has very serious problems with quality control of their software engineering and their corporate culture spreading back over a number of years. I have certainly lost a lot of trust that they are doing the right thing.

Boeing & NASA admit multiple anomalies on Starliner mission - NASASpaceFlight.com

After saying for weeks the spacecraft and systems performed “as designed” after recovering from a…

www.nasaspaceflight.com

Boeing Accused of Pressuring Investigators in 2009 Air Crash Investigation

Boeing's MAX pain will continue as Dutch lawmakers have accused the firm of pressuring investigators to downplay its role in a 2009 crash.

www.ccn.com

 

[codash1099]

Not too much new here but interesting nevertheless:

'One in 25 airplanes had a safety incident': More revelations emerge over Boeing's 737 MAX

A former senior Boeing manager reveals he urged management to temporarily shut down the 737 MAX factory in the United States months before the first fatal crash.

www.abc.net.au

 

[serfty]

American, United push back 737 MAX return amid new approval delays

American Airlines Group Inc <AAL.O> and United Airlines Holdings Inc <UAL.O> are pushing back the return of Boeing 737 MAX flights until August and September, respectively, a fresh delay that comes after sources told Reuters that the timing of a key certification flight...

www.reuters.com

CHICAGO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - American Airlines Group Inc and United Airlines Holdings Inc are pushing back the return of Boeing 737 MAX flights until August and September, respectively, a fresh delay that comes after sources told Reuters that the timing of a key certification flight may not occur until at least April. ...