Boeing HQ
Today’s key story centers about the 737 MAX and altitude control at Southwest Airlines, after another Southwest aircraft descended dangerously low over the weekend. This is the third incident of a plane descending to low altitude, and while all have recovered and landed safely, the margin for error is quite thin. The question now is whether this is a problem with the airline and its pilot training or the aircraft itself? As Southwest is Boeing’s largest 737 MAX customer, a resolution of the problem is needed quickly as Boeing can ill afford another incident given the scrutiny it is under related to safety. This needs an investigation and resolution as quickly as can be professionally completed. Southwest, itself, is under financial pressure with a hostile investor challenging management.
Boeing released its Commercial Market Outlook on the eve of the Farnborough Air Show and projects demand for 44,000 new airliners over the next 20 years. With strong demand rebounding to pre-pandemic levels worldwide, both Airbus and Boeing are optimistic about high future demand for air travel.
With the start of Farnborough, Dominic Gates has an interesting story in the Seattle Times of Airbus moving forward while Boeing is holding on, and should be among your must reads today.
Meanwhile, the BBC speaks to the ‘seismic’ impact of the door blowout incident on Boeing and the implications that have resulted from that incident.
Stories about restoring 787 output by year-end and gearing up 777-X production are both quite positive, as is a story about Boeing being ‘grateful’ for a whistleblower speaking up. The latter is quite a cultural change at the company that in the past tended to ignore their complaints.
The plea deal resulting from the MAX crashes, brought on by a compliance failure with the door plug blowout, remains not finalized as the role of the independent monitor and oversight are under final negotiations. That deal needs to be finalized soon, as Boeing needs to focus its efforts on safety and manufacturing quality.
Finally, after contract negotiations stalled, the US Air Force brought in a hard-nosed negotiator on the E-7 “Wedgetail” program to finally close a deal. Given the number of Boeing defense contracts that are over-budget, we hope this deal is profitable for both parties.
Links to today’s key stories follow:
- Southwest Boeing 737 MAX plunges to 150 feet above sea in Tampa Bay – Aviation A2Z
- Boeing projects demand for 44,000 new aeroplanes by 2043 as air travel surges – Aviation 24
- With aviation’s future clouded, Airbus looks forward. Boeing holds on – Seattle Times
- How ordinary failure could have a seismic effect on an industrial giant – BBC
- Boeing restoring output, expects 787 suppliers to catch up by year end – Business Standard
- Boeing’s 777X production gears up: key models and 2025 launch plans revealed – Malay Mail
- Boeing is “grateful” for employee who spoke up about falsified 787 Dreamliner inspection records – Simple Flying
- Boeing compliance with old plead deal over 2 jet crashes that killed 346 haunts new attempt to plead guilty to felony fraud charge – Fortune
- Air Force brought in hard-nosed negotiator to close E-7 deal with Boeing – Defense One
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