Today’s key stories focus on the NTSB hearings and likely increased FAA scrutiny of Boeing, and the continuing saga of the ill-fated Starliner capsule.
The NTSB hearings have released thousands of pages of investigative evidence, much of its damning to Boeing. The NTSB and company have yet been able to determine who failed to replace the bolts when the aircraft was apparently moved in an overnight process. Clearly, FAA oversight of Boeing was also lacking, and needs to be upgraded, although that may not fully happen until 2027.
Boeing’s 737-9 door plugs are being redesigned so that they can no longer be installed without the required screws, and that modification and retrofit to the existing fleet should take about a year to complete.
Testimony at the NTSB hearings revealed that Boeing’s instructions to workers were complicated and confusing, and a part of the safety and quality problems the company has been experiencing.
In other stories, Boeing’s new CEO must address the cash flow issues at Boeing, who burned through $8.3 billion in the first half of the year, and will likely end the year with a double digit billions cash deficit. The $43 billion wasted on stock buybacks by the previous regime could really come in handy right about now, but c’est la vie.
Airlines are rescheduling their fleet plans amid Boeing’s inability to deliver aircraft on time, with Allegiant the latest to announce a formal rescheduling.
On the continuing saga “Stranded in Space,” NASA is now saying that it is possible the astronauts may not return home before 2025, and then on a SpaceX Crew Dragon instead of the Boeing Starliner that brought them into space. This is becoming a major embarrassment to Boeing, who have already lost $1.6 billion on the program, that is running the risk of cancellation for poor performance.
The testimony in the hearings is likely to lead to a conclusion of gross negligence by Boeing, should the issue on the Alaska blowout ever reach a jury, as the company can still not determine who worked on the aircraft’s door plug. Given sign off and inspection requirements for every task, clearly Boeing was not in regulatory compliance, FAA oversight was lax, and more likely, both.
On the continuing saga “Stranded in Space,” NASA is now saying that it is possible the astronauts may not return home before 2025, and then on a SpaceX Crew Dragon instead of the Boeing Starliner that brought them into space. This is becoming a major embarrassment to Boeing, who have already lost $1.6 billion on the program, that is running the risk of cancellation for poor performance. Mr. Ortberg will need to quickly determine if this program can be saved, or given their poor performance, something that needs to be culled and cancelled.
Links to today’s key stories follow:
- Boeing’s new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, sparks hope of a culture shift – but first he must address its awful finances – Fortune
- Allegiant further reduces 737 MAX delivery expectations – airlinegeeks
- Boeing says 737 MAX9 door plugs will now be harder to lose – Quartz
- Boeing’s instructions to workers criticized as complicated, confusing – BNN Bloomberg
- Strengthened FAA safety rules aimed at Boeing won’t be enforced for years – Seattle Times
- NASA says two astronauts stuck in space may not return until 2025 – WHDH Boston
- NASA says Boeing Starliner astronauts may fly home on SpaceX – Seattle Times
