Boeing HQ
Today’s key stories about Boeing focused on the aftermath of David Calhoun’s Senate committee testimony. Boeing’s CEO came away from the session with a significant verbal beating, with criticism from customers to legislators to whistleblowers. Perhaps the most damaging element from the testimony was that Calhoun knew of whistleblower retaliation, but never met with a whistleblower to discuss the situation or hear employee concerns first hand. But absentee management is one of the results of the “financially driven” Boeing culture that moved the head office far from key engineering and manufacturing sites. These cultural issues have been ongoing since the McDonnell-Douglas merger and pre-date the 737 MAX.
In other stories, the two astronauts on the Boeing Starship are stranded on the International Space Station after helium leaks and thruster faults with the capsule. Their return voyage has once again been pushed back, as additional tests continue. GE is seeing continued supply chain constraints that it expects will continue into next year, likely impacting narrow-body production for the CFM Leap and wide-body engines for the 787 and forthcoming 777X.
Families of the victims of the two MAX crashes have urged the DOJ to fine Boeing $24.8 billion and to prosecute some key executives following Boeing’s breach of a controversial deferred prosecution agreement.
Finally, the two astronauts at the International Space Station have had yet another extension of their trip as faults with helium leaks and thrusters need to be solved before re-entry is attempted.
Links to today’s key stories follow:
- Former United Airlines CEO slams Boeing’s ‘lack of trust’ as CEO Dave Calhoun faces Senate heat – Benzinga
- Hawley to Boeing CEO: ‘I think it is a tragedy you are still in your job’ – Washington Examiner
- Takeaways from Boeing CEO’s testimony about company safety culture – CBS Austin
- Boeing CEO knew about retaliation against whistleblowers but never bothered to speak with one – Jalopnik
- GE Aerospace sees supply constraints persisting next year – Yahoo
- ACG announces delivery of 1 Boeing 737 MAX 8 to WestJet – ASD news
- 737 MAX crash victims families seek $25 billion fine on Boeing – Bloomberg Law
- Two astronauts stranded on International Space Station after major Boeing faults – GBN
