Today’s key stories focus on the Starliner and ‘Dutch roll” indident at Southwest Airlines with a Boeing 737 MAX 8. In the wake of a highly publicized new conference with the two astronauts currently at the International Space Station, stories centered about the long delay in returning them to earth, and even whether NASA might need to use SpaceX to rescue the two astronauts that flew to the space station on the Boeing capsule.
Boeing, which was years late in its goal of a manned space flight using the Starliner capsule, along with NASA, decided to go ahead with the flight despite a known helium leak before departure. The question some are asking is why NASA and Boeing took the risk? A return via Space X would be viewed as an embarrassing failure, something Boeing does not need.
In the good news, Boeing is apparently nearing a deal with Korean Air for the 777X, which could be formalized at the Farnborough Air Show later this month. That would be a significant boost to the behind-schedule program. Boeing is also expanding efforts to autonomously inspect aircraft, using drones and AI to interpret imaging. Technology in MRO is an expanding new business, and Boeing is at the forefront of innovation in maintenance technology.
Experts have revealed a theory that the rudder on a 737 MAX that had a “Dutch roll” incident may have been damaged in a windstorm at New Orleans airport. The storm included wind gusts to 84 miles per hour, which may have damaged the rudder by sending it back and forth while on the ground. That damage may have resulted in movement of the yaw damper that normally protects against a “Dutch roll.”
A Senator is asking for further testimony from Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun as she prepares new FAA legislation. The objective is whether the FAA did its job adequately at Boeing and whether further scrutiny, and budget, will be required.
Finally, in today’s negative media whopper of the day, the UK Daily Mail, which seems to have Boeing targeted on its dart board, has a headline that reads “Boeing tire EXPLODES on takeoff“ regarding an aborted takeoff by an American Airlines aircraft that safely braked on the runway with no damage or injuries. First, having the word explodes in upper case doesn’t properly reflect a tire blowout, second, Boeing doesn’t manufacture tires, and third, the video attached shows the safe braking of the Boeing airplane on the single tire remaining on the wheel after aborting the take-off. I’ve added the story only because the video shows the exceptional performance of the Boeing during the aborted take-off.
Links to today’s key stories follow:
- Boeing lost in space: Did ‘focus on profits over engineering’ mar ISS mission overwhelmed by issues? – France 24
- NASA says it has no plans to use SpaceX to rescue 2 stranded astronauts – Business Insider
- Senator wants Boeing CEO to testify as she prepares new FAA legislation – Investing
- Boeing expanding effort to autonomously inspect aircraft – Aviation Today
- Experts reveal theory behind why Boeing plane did a ‘Dutch roll’ mid-flight – Independent
- Boeing nears deal to sell 777X jets to Korean Air, sources say – Reuters
- Boeing tire EXPLODES on takeoff – YouTube via Daily Mail
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