Will you ever fly the 737 MAX?

[trippin_the_rift]

Imagine that Boeing rolls out software updates, improved pilot training and a bunch of PR stating that 737 MAX aircraft is fully safe and there won't be future problems.

Will you fly the MAX?

 

[kpc]

No. As an AFFer said, you only have 1 life.

 

[oz_mark]

Maybe....Wait and see..

 

[Happy Trails]

Absolutely...

...if JB747 is the pilot.

 

[juddles]

No..........................................................................

 

[blackcat20]

Nope

 

[RooFlyer]

I think so, after a while.

Just like I avoided the B787 at first, due to its battery fires. Gave it a few years to make sure it had 'settled down' and now, no worries.

 

[Ansett]

I would avoid it as much as humanely possible.

 

[Mattg]

Yes, I will fly on it again.

Once aviation safety regulators are satisfied that the safety issues have been resolved and the groundings are lifted, I don't see any reason to avoid flying on the 737 MAX.

There will soon be hundreds and even thousands of these aircraft in service, so I think those saying they will never fly on it are just making life hard for themselves.

 

[amaroo]

Yes, but only after they’ve fitted the after sales “staying alive” package.

What this awful event has reinforced with me is to continue to avoid airlines that have pilots with stuff all experience. Eg: third world countries or LC airlines in suspect countries

Brand new planes are clearly not the only critical component.

I also believe it will be impossible to avoid unless you eliminate flying all the airlines that have or will purchase them.

 

[juddles]

......
There will soon be hundreds and even thousands of these aircraft in service, so I think those saying they will never fly on it are just making life hard for themselves.

Mattg, I agree that it may be hard.

With over 5000 orders for these already, this huge body of the world's airline fleet will have to consist of something. It is not as though Airbus could fill the gap whilst Boeing went back to the drawing board for years.

Unfortunately for me though, I see the only two alternatives to Boeing to be (1) "software" changes that are needed to control a difficult and patch-work aircraft, or (2) scrapping the Max and starting on a all-new design, which would be a hell of a rush job.

I am assuming that they will try (1), but I suspect they may have to ditch the Max name and essentially convince many customers (both airlines and pax) that they are not getting a lemon aircraft.

I also think that a lot of things have come out about the airline industry that were not widely known, such as the immense pressures on Boeing to yet-again do another iteration of the 737 series that minimized pilot training costs, etc etc. I am not an expert, but also no fool, and it still absolutely amazed me that these aircraft were forced on pilots with just an hour "video tutorial" for the conversion, and MCAS was hidden from them.

Economics and necessity will dictate that many will have to fly on these things again, but I for one will avoid them for a very long time. As @RooFlyer said, waiting a few years to see if they turn out alright is the ideal way.

 

[clipped_wings]

How does one avoid them if one flies often enough? And how do you respond if your 737 or 738 gets swapped out for a Max last minute?

Not an issue I will face on a daily basis, but for many FF's here - I imagine it would keep you up at night. Hugs to you all.

 

[amaroo]

The only pressure Boeing was under was self inflicted. They were caught with their pants down because Airbus had a better offer that plenty of airlines wanted to buy.

Boeing deserve full condemnation for prioritising greed over safety. You can add the regulator in for good measure.

Greed materialises in bonuses and the CEO has been enjoying plenty of those over the past few years.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

How does one avoid them if one flies often enough? And how do you respond if your 737 or 738 gets swapped out for a Max last minute?

Not an issue I will face on a daily basis, but for many FF's here - I imagine it would keep you up at night. Hugs to you all.

It's a good question. But... I'm actually struggling to remember the last time I flew on a 737 (of any model). I think it might have been 2014 with a domestic flight SFO-LAX (AA).

And before that it was a long time.

Most of my flights intra-US are now on ERJs and CRJs. Some heavy traffic routes (for example LGA-DCA) have been Airbus.

Within Europe same same, ERJs or Airbus. Asia, mostly widebodies these days, but narrow bodies have all been Airbus.

I'm not a fan of the 737 any day (narrower cabin than the A320 range, and I prefer my luggage in containers than being hand loaded in the rain )

So it's actually not all that hard to avoid an entire model. If someone was flying an airline that primarily relied on 737s it might be harder to specifically avoid the 'MAX' variant.

 

[Forg]

So it's actually not all that hard to avoid an entire model. If someone was flying an airline that primarily relied on 737s it might be harder to specifically avoid the 'MAX' variant.

Domestically within Australia it may not be that easy, unless Qantas or Virgin swaps to A320's.
But by the time the aircraft are delivered & in service with a local carrier they'll surely have had quite a few year's worth of a lot of airlines using them for a LOT of flight-time.

 

[kelvedon]

I’m sure Virgin are thinking hard about this question.

 

[boomy]

If all issues are fixed and no more accidents then after a while yes, I’ll fly the Max. I think many of those who say they won’t will find it hard to avoid this plane in the future.

 

[Blinky]

I’d fly. I will be able to convince myself that this craft has had enough malfunctions, and it will be more likely to happen to others.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

i suppose we all got back on the DC-10. But then that was a beautiful aircraft. The 737... not so much

 

[maia200]

Hopefully not.....don't know what I would do if aircraft was swapped and I didn't have a choice....however I would not book a flight knowing it was a Max