3 month old 737-9 Max depressurisation incident

[YorkRailFan]

Thing is, an A330 is simultaneously too little and too much airplane to replace a 767. There was a thread about this a while back on another forum and the problem with the A330 in the freighter market is that its legs are too long (since it's optimised to be efficient over long routes), and it's less efficient a lifter as a 767 over shorter distances.

I've always thought that the issue with the dedicated built A330F was that Airbus used the smaller -200, not the larger -300. If Airbus is to launch an A330neo Freighter, they need to use the larger -900.

 

[najaB]

I've always thought that the issue with the dedicated built A330F was that Airbus used the smaller -200, not the larger -300. If Airbus is to launch an A330neo Freighter, they need to use the larger -900.

Nah, the 330-900 would be *way* too big of an aircraft. It would only appeal to the likes of UPS and FedEx because in general freight it would mass out before it bulks out.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Nah, the 330-900 would be *way* too big of an aircraft. It would only appeal to the likes of UPS and FedEx because in general freight it would mass out before it bulks out.

UPS and FedEx have plenty of 767Fs in their fleet and on order and they're phasing out the MD-11F, they alone could make an A330-900F successful.

 

[najaB]

UPS and FedEx have plenty of 767Fs in their fleet and on order and they're phasing out the MD-11F, they alone could make an A330-900F successful.

They've 64 MD-11s between them, I doubt that's enough to pay for a A330-900F programme.

 

[YorkRailFan]

They've 64 MD-11s between them, I doubt that's enough to pay for a A330-900F programme.

That's double the amount the A330-200F sold. Coupled with other customers (Turkish Airlines perhaps) it could be a success.

 

[najaB]

That's double the amount the A330-200F sold. Coupled with other customers (Turkish Airlines perhaps) it could be a success.

As compared with over 280 767F and 150 KC-46s the A330F isn't really much of a success.

 

[YorkRailFan]

It was revealed late on Tuesday that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) had filed a case accusing the planemaker of breaching its obligations in a 2021 agreement that shielded Boeing from criminal prosecution over the crashes.

Then, Boeing agreed to pay $2.5bn to resolve the investigation into its conduct, compensate victims' relatives and overhaul its compliance practices.

The terms of that deal - known as a deferred prosecution agreement - were due to expire in January this year but, two days beforehand, a Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft operated by Alaska Airlines suffered a mid-air panel blowout.The blowout has been the subject of multi-agency investigations, including by the DoJ.

Its court filing exposes Boeing to a potential criminal prosecution over the 2018 and 2019 crashes that could carry further steep financial penalties and tougher oversight, deepening the renewed corporate crisis and reputational damage stemming from the January blowout.

The DoJ said that while Boeing was now subject to prosecution, it would consider steps the planemaker has taken to address and remediate violation of the pact before determining how to proceed.It ordered the company to respond by mid-June and said it would make a decision on whether to proceed with a fresh criminal case by 7 July."We believe that we have honoured the terms of that agreement and look forward to the opportunity to respond to the Department on this issue," Boeing said in a statement.It added: "As we do so, we will engage with the Department with the utmost transparency, as we have throughout the entire term of the agreement, including in response to their questions following the Alaska Airlines 1282 accident."

The Reuters news agency reported that DoJ officials were to meet families of those killed in the 2018 and 2019 crashes as part of their deliberations.

Boeing could face prosecution in US over 737 MAX plane crashes which killed 346

A decision will be made by the summer on whether Boeing is to be prosecuted for the first time over the crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia that were blamed on both shoddy software and regulatory oversight.

news.sky.com

Ouch, this would really ruin Boeing's reputation and increase their debt. Whoever takes over as CEO from Calhoun will have even more challenges than previously. I still have doubts that any Boeing executives will face criminal prosecution though.

 

[najaB]

Ouch, this would really ruin Boeing's reputation and increase their debt. Whoever takes over as CEO from Calhoun will have even more challenges than previously. I still have doubts that any Boeing executives will face criminal prosecution though.

Their only defence (slightly) is that the door design pre-dates the Max. This wasn't a Max-related stuff-up, it was a general 737 stuff-up.

 

[jfollows]

Their only defence (slightly) is that the door design pre-dates the Max. This wasn't a Max-related stuff-up, it was a general 737 stuff-up.

I think this threatened prosecution is to do with MCAS and the fact that Boeing hasn’t complied with the subsequent agreement; the door issue and its design might have been an immediate cause of the Alaska Air incident but its investigation seems to have uncovered far worse things at Boeing. Hence “slightly” I guess!

 

[YorkRailFan]

Their only defence (slightly) is that the door design pre-dates the Max. This wasn't a Max-related stuff-up, it was a general 737 stuff-up.

As @jfollows says, its to do with Boeing breaking the agreement they had with the DOJ following the 2 MCAS caused crashes. AS 1282 triggered the DOJ to investigate.

 

[najaB]

As @jfollows says, its to do with Boeing breaking the agreement they had with the DOJ following the 2 MCAS caused crashes. AS 1282 triggered the DOJ to investigate.

Yes. But they might try the line "This is nothing to do with the Max and MCAS" and see if it works.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Yes. But they might try the line "This is nothing to do with the Max and MCAS" and see if it works.

How on Earth would do they do this when the DOJ is investigating if Boeing broke the Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with them following the MAX crashes which were caused by MCAS?

 

[najaB]

How on Earth would do they do this when the DOJ is investigating if Boeing broke the Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with them following the MAX crashes which were caused by MCAS?

Because the prosecution that was deferred was specifically over the Max crashes involving MCAS. This most recent incident has nothing to do with the Max design nor MCAS.

By way of analogy, lets say that I was caught driving over the speed limit but the prosecutors said "Do this speed awareness course and don't break the speed limit again. If you do then we'll prosecute both offences." If I then drive the wrong way down a one-way street, have I broken the agreement?

I'm not saying it will work, but that's about the only thing that they can try.

 

[jfollows]

The DPA (https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/file/1482911/dl?inline), although it originated following the grounding of the 737 MAX, was a means to allow the aircraft to fly in service again and is much more wide-ranging than MCAS alone.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Their only defence (slightly) is that the door design pre-dates the Max. This wasn't a Max-related stuff-up, it was a general 737 stuff-up.

The blowout on AS 1282 wasn't due to a design flaw in the door plug but an installation issue.

Because the prosecution that was deferred was specifically over the Max crashes involving MCAS. This most recent incident has nothing to do with the Max design nor MCAS.

By way of analogy, lets say that I was caught driving over the speed limit but the prosecutors said "Do this speed awareness course and don't break the speed limit again. If you do then we'll prosecute both offences." If I then drive the wrong way down a one-way street, have I broken the agreement?

I'm not saying it will work, but that's about the only thing that they can try.

The agreement does say that Boeing committing fraud would violate it, Boeing is currently being investigated if they committed fraud by the DOJ following the blowout on AS 1282.

 

[najaB]

The DPA (https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/file/1482911/dl?inline), although it originated following the grounding of the 737 MAX, was a means to allow the aircraft to fly in service again and is much more wide-ranging than MCAS alone.

The relevant section is likely to be 26 - Breaches (my bold):

26. If, during the Term, (a) the Company commits any felony under U.S. federal law; (b) the Company provides in connection with this Agreement deliberately false, incomplete, or misleading information, including in connection with its disclosure of information about individual culpability; (c) the Company or its subsidiaries and affiliates fail to cooperate as set forth in Paragraphs 5 and 6 of this Agreement; (d) the Company fails to implement a compliance program as set forth in Paragraphs 21-22 of this Agreement and Attachment; or (e) the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates otherwise fail to completely perform or fulfill each of their obligations under the Agreement, regardless of whether the Fraud Section becomes aware of such a breach after the Term is complete, the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates shall thereafter be subject to prosecution for any federal criminal violation of which the Fraud Section has knowledge...

I don't know if failing to ensure that the bolts were in place would be a felony committed by the company, so it's likely to be a question of if they have a compliance program or not. However, the compliance program focuses on fraud law (my bold):

21. The Company represents that it has implemented and will continue to implement a compliance and ethics program designed, implemented, and enforced to prevent and detect violations of the U.S. fraud laws throughout its operations, including those of its subsidiaries, affiliates, agents, and joint ventures, and those of its contractors and subcontractors whose responsibilities relate to the Company’s interactions with any domestic or foreign government agency (including the FAA), regulator, or any of its airline customers, including, but not limited to, the minimum elements set forth in Attachment C.

IANAL, but I doubt that it would.

 

[YorkRailFan]

I don't know if failing to ensure that the bolts were in place would be a felony committed by the company, so it's likely to be a question of if they have a compliance program or not. However, the compliance program focuses on fraud law (my bold):

Failing to hand over documents to the NSTB could perhaps be considered fraud?

 

[najaB]

Failing to hand over documents to the NSTB could perhaps be considered fraud?

Maybe?

 

[YorkRailFan]

Goh Choon Phong, Singapore Airlines' chief executive officer, says that the airline still expects to take delivery of its first Boeing 777-9, the larger variant of the 777X, in late 2025, despite some executives hinting that the type's deliveries could slip further.

2025 deliveries
According to a report by FlightGlobal, Phong made his comments during the group’s latest financial results presentation to analysts. Singapore Airlines announced a profit of $2.6 billion for FY2023/FY24, which ended on March 31, 2024.The airline’s executive stated that Singapore Airlines should receive its first Boeing 777-9 in late 2025, a significant delay to the initial timeline of FY2021/22. The carrier initially ordered 20 aircraft of the type on top of another 19 Boeing 787-10 aircraft in February 2017.

At the time, Phong detailed that the widebody aircraft order would enable Singapore Airlines to operate a modern and fuel-efficient fleet, providing the Singapore Airlines Group with more growth opportunities to retain its industry-leading position.

Singapore Airlines Expects Its 1st Boeing 777-9 Late Next Year

Despite significant delays to the 777X, Singapore Airlines still expects to receive the aircraft in late 2025.

simpleflying.com

With Emirates and Lufthansa saying 2026/2027, I find Singapore's estimate of Q4 2025 highly unlikely. Especially with the 737-7 and 737-10 as of yet being uncertified.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Both Boeing and NASA are developing tests and solutions for the leak, the release said. Boeing plans to bring the propulsion system to the flight pressurization it would reach just before launch and then allow the helium system to naturally vent.

A review of the data from a May 6 launch attempt has not shown any other issues, Boeing said.

The NASA astronauts set to crew the mission for a weeklong stay at the International Space Station, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, have been in preflight quarantine but returned to Houston on May 10 to spend time with their families during the operations preflight, Boeing said.

Williams and Wilmore will fly back to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in the coming days, according to the release.The world will have to wait at least another week before the highly anticipated first crewed mission of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

The launch was expected on May 17 after a previous delay, but teams found a small helium leak in the service module of the spacecraft, according to a release from Boeing. Starliner teams traced the leak to a flange on a single reaction control system thruster, where helium is used to allow the thrusters to fire.

“The teams now are targeting a launch date of no earlier than 4:43 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 21, to complete additional testing,” the release said.This mission, dubbed the Crew Flight Test, could be the final major milestone before NASA deems Boeing’s spacecraft ready for routine operations as part of the federal agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/14/world/boeing-starliner-delay-helium-leak-scn/index.html

This comes after a NASA supplier warned against the 17th May launch following the valve issue discovered on the attempted launch earlier this month.

NASA should immediately halt the Starliner launch due to serious safety risks demonstrated by a leaking valve, according to the professional opinion of ValveTech Inc. The launch was scrubbed due to a leaking regulator valve in an oxygen tank, yet NASA is considering trying another launch soon.

"As a valued NASA partner and as valve experts, we strongly urge them not to attempt a second launch due to the risk of a disaster occurring on the launchpad," said ValveTech President Erin Faville. "According to media reports, a buzzing sound indicating the leaking valve was noticed by someone walking by the Starliner minutes before launch. This sound could indicate that the valve has passed its lifecycle."

"NASA needs to re-double safety checks and re-examine safety protocols to make sure the Starliner is safe before something catastrophic happens to the astronauts and to the people on the ground," Faville added.

An earlier issue with a valve

The valve leak at launch follows an issue with the Service Module Propulsion system, which incorporates a valve from Boeing's contractor, Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc., (an L3 Harris Technologies company). A federal court found Aerojet breached multiple non-disclosure agreements for improperly disclosing, retaining, or using ValveTech's valves, designs, technology and data.

Since the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York's November 2023 ruling, there seemingly has been no change made to this Aerojet valve, which a witness at trial deemed as being not qualified to the right specifications and not evaluated to ensure safety protocols. ValveTech continues to question how NASA, Boeing and Aerojet could have qualified this valve for the mission without proper supporting data or previous history or legacy information, which in its experience, goes against aerospace-industry qualification protocols established by NASA.

ValveTech supplies 14 valve components to vendors for the Starliner CST-100 spacecraft, which is designed to carry humans and scientific research to and from low-Earth orbit, including the International Space Station.

Safety Concerns Show Urgent Need to Stop NASA Starliner Launch, Warns ValveTech (Hastings Law Client)

/PRNewswire/ -- NASA should immediately halt the Starliner launch due to serious safety risks demonstrated by a leaking valve, according to the professional...

www.prnewswire.com

Pretty damning for Boeing and NASA.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Aerospace supplier Spirit AeroSystems announced plans to lay off between 400 and 450 members of its workforce in the coming days, amid the chaos at one of the company’s key clients, Boeing.

“The recent slowdown in the delivery rate on commercial programs compels a reduction to our workforce in Wichita,” an internal memo, obtained by Kansas-based outlet KSNW, read. “In the coming weeks, we will inform affected employees. We are committed to implementing this transition in as compassionate a manner as possible.”

Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems to lay off hundreds days after whistleblower death

Decision was announced in memo to Kansas-based staff of aerospace supplier

www.independent.co.uk

Ouch, sadly we do not know what role these employees had but hopefully they weren't QC Inspectors.

Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab shareholders will vote on Friday whether outgoing CEO Dave Calhoun should remain on the board, adding intrigue to an annual general meeting (AGM) where investors are expected to seek clarity on future leadership of the planemaker.
Former Qualcomm (QCOM.O), opens new tab chief Steve Mollenkopf will make his first public appearance as chairman at the virtual gathering. Boeing is dealing with a sprawling crisis that includes multiple investigations, possible prosecution for past actions and slumping production of its strongest-selling jet.
Mollenkopf is leading the search to replace Calhoun, who said he would retire by year-end as part of a management shakeup following a January mid-air blowout on a new 737 MAX 9.
"I would think it’s going to be a rougher ride, this AGM," said David Duffy, co-founder and director of the Dublin-based Corporate Governance Institute, in reference to Mollenkopf.
"Most (attendees) are institutional investors who want to know, 'Can you give us some sort of commitment you’re going to sort this place out and what you hope to achieve within a certain space of time?' What he says in the AGM is going to be important, not just for investors but passengers."
Boeing shares have plunged 30% this year.
Proxy advisor Glass Lewis has recommended shareholders vote against the reelection of Calhoun and two other directors to Boeing's board, citing dissatisfaction over efforts to transform the planemaker's safety culture.
Separately, proxy advisor ISS flagged a misalignment between CEO pay and company performance, arguing that investors should not support a non-binding advisory vote on compensation.
Tony Bancroft, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds, which owns shares in Boeing, said he believes Calhoun's pay package is in line with a company of Boeing's size.
Investors have also been waiting to hear progress on choosing Calhoun's successor. Management experts said the company needs to find a new leader by mid-year as its current leadership does not have the credibility to make bold changes.
"Boeing cannot get back on track until its board appoints a new CEO from outside the company with a technical background and a deep understanding of aerospace technology," said Bill George, former Medtronic (MDT.N), opens new tab CEO and a Harvard professor of management practice.Bancroft said Pat Shanahan, CEO of Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems (SPR.N), opens new tab, would be a "great option" as the next CEO. Other possible successors flagged by analysts or sources have included Boeing board member and Carrier (CARR.N), opens new tab boss David Gitlin and American Airlines (AAL.O), opens new tab Chairman Greg Smith.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/departing-boeing-ceos-board-status-faces-friday-vote-by-shareholders-2024-05-17/

Calhoun is still expected to remain as Boeing President after stepping down as Boeing CEO however.

Boeing Co shareholders voted to re-elect outgoing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun to the planemaker's board at the company's annual meeting, as per a preliminary tally.

Proxy adviser Glass Lewis had last month recommended shareholders vote against the reelection of Calhoun and two other Boeing directors, citing dissatisfaction over the efforts to transform the safety culture at the planemaker.

Boeing shareholders vote to re-elect CEO Calhoun to board

Boeing Co shareholders voted to re-elect outgoing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun to the planemaker's board at the company's annual meeting, as per a preliminary tally. Proxy adviser Glass...

www.marketscreener.com

I didn't expect that, let's see if the new CEO dumps him as President.

Boeing published their orders and deliveries for April 2024 and its miserable to say the least:

Boeing's aircraft orders slumped in April, recording just seven. The US aircraft manufacturer has been facing a media storm with whistleblowing controversies and the backlash of Alaska Airlines AS1282, which saw a plug door blow out in flight. The Federal Aviation Administration is limiting the production of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft due to concerns about quality after multiple staff members publicized that the manufacturer has compromised safety to produce airplanes quicker. US regulators have also investigated several allegations of falsified inspection records on the 787 widebody production line.The seven aircraft orders included two 777-9, two 787-10 for undisclosed customers, and three 787-9 destined for Isreals, EL AL.Deliveries also slumped to just 24, the lowest since February 2022. However, on a more positive note, it celebrated the completion and delivery of its 1500th 737 MAX aircraft, destined for Europe's ultra-low-cost carrier, Ryanair.Ryanair received three 737 MAX 8-200 in April, with another three MAX 8 headed to Air India Express. For widebody variants, four 787s went to Japan's All Nippon Airways, one for Honolulu-based Hawaiian Airlines and another single aircraft for Juneyao Airlines, a Star Alliance connecting partner based in Shanghai. Two 767s ended up with UPS for freighters, and two 777Fs were destined for Eva Air and Qatar Airways.The slowdown of deliveries can be attributed to the FAA's grounding of the 737 MAX 9 fleet, which saw 171 aircraft taken out of service after the cause of the AS1282 controversy, noticed that locking bolts were missing from the emergency exit plug. Even once the issue was resolved, the FAA disclosed that 32 whistleblower complaints were filed to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration.In a report by Reuters, Boeing stated that the slowdown in production of the MAX aircraft was due to concerns about manufacturing quality following the Alaska Airlines incident and increased scrutiny from US regulators. Deliveries for the MAX jets were 16, down one compared to April 2023. April 2023 was also plagued by a supplier defect, where Spirit AeroSystems identified that fittings in the aft fuselage were not correctly attached.

Boeing Received Just 7 Plane Orders In April 2024

Seven were ordered, and only 24 were delivered.

simpleflying.com

Looks like the 2 777Fs were the first to be delivered so far in 2024.

Ryanair remains confident that it will receive its initial Boeing 737-10 aircraft as planned in spring 2027, despite delays in regulatory certification.

The airline has 150 firm orders and 150 options for the aircraft type after agreeing a deal with Boeing in May 2023, with 17 due to be delivered in time for the peak summer 2027 season. However, the U.S. FAA is yet to certify the 737-10 or the smaller 737-7 variant.

“There has been some slippage on the MAX 7 certification. I think it has now moved from the back end of 2024 into the first half of 2025,” Ryanair Group CEO Micharl O’Leary said on a conference call.

“That probably means that MAX 10 has slipped a little bit toward the middle to the end of 2025. They will miss, in my view, some of their first deliveries of MAX 10s in summer 2025 to the American carriers. But we don't think at this stage it will delay our first 17 deliveries during the spring of 2027.”

O'Leary acknowledged the potential for delays, but emphasized that they would not significantly affect Ryanair’s growth plans for summer 2027. “There's a risk that some of those might be late, but it won’t fundamentally alter our growth prospects for summer 2027,” he said.

Ryanair is set to take delivery of 29 737-8-200 aircraft from Boeing in the first half of 2025, originally scheduled for late 2024, and will receive no new aircraft in 2026. The 17 737-10s arriving in 2027 will replace older aircraft rather than contribute to growth.

Ryanair Confident On 737-10 Delivery Schedule | Aviation Week Network

Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary is hopeful the airline will receive 17 Boeing 737-10s as scheduled.

aviationweek.com

2027 is realistic for 737-10 Entry Into Service in my opinion, given delays with the 737-7 following Boeing withdrawing a request for an exemption regarding anti-ice.

 

[najaB]

2027 is realistic for 737-10 Entry Into Service in my opinion, given delays with the 737-7 following Boeing withdrawing a request for an exemption regarding anti-ice.

Three years for the engine anti-ice fix and certification - that feels too long. I expect it to be mid-2025 for the fix with certification coming in either Q4 2025 or Q1 2026. Deliveries can then start late in Q2 2026.

The only question is what re-work would be needed for the frames that have already been built.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Three years for the engine anti-ice fix and certification - that feels too long. I expect it to be mid-2025 for the fix with certification coming in either Q4 2025 or Q1 2025. Deliveries can then start late in Q2 2025.

The only question is what re-work would be needed for the frames that have already been built.

That would be for the 737-7 however, the FAA has an issue with the tyres on the 737-10 and with how the gear works. That will take additional time to certify, possibly in 2026. Additionally, Ryanair is not the launch customer for the type.

 

[ainsworth74]

Until there's any developments relating to the door incident it would seem that this thread has run its course.

 

[rg177]

Thread reopened as I'm informed that there has been an update...

 

[YorkRailFan]

Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun is set to face a Senate Subcommittee.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun will testify before a Senate panel on June 18 to answer lawmaker questions about whistleblower allegations and quality control at the aircraft maker as it navigates a safety crisis.

"I look forward to Mr. Calhoun's testimony, which is a necessary step in meaningfully addressing Boeing's failures, regaining public trust, and restoring the company's central role in the American economy and national defense," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

"Years of putting profits ahead of safety, stock price ahead of quality, and production speed ahead of responsibility has brought Boeing to this moment of reckoning, and its hollow promises can no longer stand," he said.

The hearing comes after a company engineer alleged the assembly of Boeing's 787 Dreamliners put excessive stress on the planes and reduce their lifespans, allegations Boeing called inaccurate. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.

"We welcome the opportunity to appear before the Subcommittee to share the actions we have taken, and will continue to take, to strengthen safety and quality and ensure that commercial air travel remains the safest form of transportation," Boeing said in a statement. "We are committed to fostering a culture of accountability and transparency while upholding the highest standards of safety and quality."

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/05/boeing-ceo-dave-calhoun-senate-hearing.html

Boeing have also published their plan to the FAA on how to resolve their current issues.

Boeing’s top executives delivered a plan to improve quality and safety to the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday, vowing to address systemic issues that have damaged the company’s reputation and put the aircraft manufacturer at the center of several federal investigations.

Boeing detailed these and other steps during a three-hour meeting with the F.A.A.’s administrator, Mike Whitaker, where the company submitted a “comprehensive action plan” that the regulator ordered in February.

Mr. Whitaker had given Boeing 90 days to develop a plan to make sweeping safety improvements after a midcabin panel known as a door plug blew out of a 737 Max 9 jet flying at about 16,000 feet on Jan. 5. No one was seriously injured during the flight.

The F.A.A. said in a statement on Thursday that “senior” leaders from the agency would “meet with Boeing weekly to review their performance metrics, progress and any challenges they’re facing in implementing the changes.”Boeing was also required to address findings, from an expert panel convened by the F.A.A. last year, that revealed persistent issues with the company’s safety culture. Mr. Whitaker said Boeing had accepted all of the recommendations the panel made in the report.

“We need to see a strong and unwavering commitment to safety and quality that endures over time,” Mr. Whitaker said during a news conference on Thursday. “This is about systemic change, and there’s a lot of work to be done.”

In a statement, Boeing said the action plan it delivered to the F.A.A. was based on feedback it received from employees and through conversations with the regulator. Boeing provided some additional detail on the actions it was taking to improve quality but did not make the safety plan public.

In an email to employees, Stephanie Pope, the head of Boeing’s commercial plane unit and the company’s chief operating officer, said the company is investing in training, simplifying plans and processes, eliminating defects and improving quality and safety.

Boeing Gives F.A.A. Plan to Address Systemic Quality-Control Issues

The action plan is the latest in a series of moves by the F.A.A. to push for safety improvements throughout Boeing during a tumultuous year for the company.

www.nytimes.com

Emirates President believes Boeing needs a strong CEO to solve the issues the company is facing, something which I can agree with.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/emirates-boss-says-boeing-needs-strong-ceo-end-crisis-2024-06-02/

The head of Dubai airline Emirates urged Boeing (BA.N), to pick an engineering and business heavyweight to lead a deep overhaul of the U.S. aerospace giant and said the task of ending the planemaker's recent confidence crisis "must get done".
"Is it fixable and salvageable? Yes, it is. Will it get things back to where it needs to? It must. And you'll only do that with very strong leadership, who are fixated on doing the right thing," Emirates Airline President Tim Clark told reporters on the sidelines of a major airlines summit. Turning round the manufacturer after a series of safety and industrial problems, to the point where it can meet existing and new demand smoothly, may take five years, he said.

He goes onto say:

Asked what he would like to see in a new Boeing CEO, Clark said: "I think that people who have got a really broad aerospace engineering capability, who are good business managers as well, are the people that you need to bring back and sort this one out. Whether Stephanie Pope is going to be able to step up and do that (as well as) anybody, time will tell".
He added: "But we need airplanes, we cannot face constant delays. We've got a business to run and if we're having to foot the bill for refurbishing all these (existing) airplanes it should be put at Boeing's door."

Boeing just needs someone who has a burning passion for airplanes, and not just profit.

A poor month for orders and deliveries for Boeing, with just 4 787s ordered by EVA and no 737 MAX ordered for another consecutive month. A stark contrast to Airbus' orders and deliveries.

An order from Eva Air for four widebody jets was the sole commercial bright spot for Boeing in May, a month during which the company’s order and delivery pace remained curtailed amid a regulatory review by China and company efforts to shore-up production quality.

Tawainese carrier Eva’s commitment for four 787-10s was Boeing’s only deal for new aircraft during May, when it also lost an order for a single 737 Max due to a cancellation by Aerolineas Argentinas, the airframer said on 11 June.

Boeing describes the month’s order and delivery activity as “modest”, and says it is implementing a “safety and quality” plan while remaining affected by lingering supply chain troubles.Following the 5 January in-flight blow-out of an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9’s door-plug, the US manufacturer significantly slowed production in a bid to fix nagging quality and safety problems.Boeing has taken responsibility for that incident, which did not cause significant injuries to passengers or crew and which investigators have suggested resulted from workers at Boeing’s Renton 737 production facility failing to install bolts intended to secure the plug.

Boeing in May delivered only 24 aircraft of all types, among them just 19 737 Max jets; prior to the January incident, the airframer had hoped by now to be delivering at least 38 737 Max each month.

Carriers to receive 737 Max aircraft during May included Air India, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Copa, Ryanair and Southwest Airlines, says.It also handed over five widebody jets last month: two 767-based KC-46 military refuelling tankers, one 767-300 Freighter to FedEx, and one 787-9 each to lessor Air Lease and to China Southern Airlines.

Boeing last month had disclosed having halted aircraft deliveries to Chinese customers due to concern by China’s aviation regulator about lithium batteries in cockpit-voice recorders. Boeing says it was able to deliver the single 787 to China Southern in May because that jet had received an airworthiness certification prior to the delivery stoppage.

Boeing ended May with orders for 5,625 aircraft in its backlog, down from 5,646 at the end of April. The backlog includes 4,320 737s, 96 767s, 489 777s and 720 787s.

Boeing landed orders for only four aircraft in May and delivery slowdown persists

An order from Eva Air for four widebody jets was the sole bright spot for Boeing in May, a month during which the company's order and delivery pace remained curtailed amid a regulatory review by China and company efforts to shore-up production quality.

www.flightglobal.com

Some progress from the Senate Subcommittee:

Mike Whitaker, the chief administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, told members of the Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on Thursday that his agency was too lenient in its regulation of the plane maker, and that it was going to start doing things differently.
“The FAA should have had much better visibility into what was happening at Boeing before January 5th, and the approach was too hands-off and too focused on paperwork audits and not focused enough on inspections,” he said during his opening statement. “We have changed that approach over the last several months and [those changes] are permanent.” It is worth noting that the FAA said something similar the last time there was an issue with the 737 Max.

Boeing oversight was 'too hands-off' before the 737 Max crisis, FAA chief says

Changes to the way the agency watches the company will be "permanent"

qz.com

Another problem for Boeing, this time related to washers being incorrectly fitted on the 787.

Boeing has found more quality problems on its jets.

Reuters sources say the issues this time concern its 787 widebody planes.

They say the aerospace giant has found hundreds of incorrectly tightened fasteners on some undelivered aircraft.The sources say the problem was discovered at plant in South Carolina, with the fasteners found to have been tightened from the wrong end.

There is no immediate concern about flight safety, but one source says Boeing is trying to understand how the problem arose - and how much work it must do to remedy the issue.

The company confirmed the checks to Reuters, and said there would be no impact on deliveries.

Even so, it’s another concern for investors after a series of quality control issues at the company.

Some of its big-selling 737 MAX jets were grounded for a time earlier this year after a midair blowout on one of the planes.The Federal Aviation Administration has blocked a plan to raise output of the model, while Boeing takes steps to ensure manufacturing quality.

Regulators said they were aware of the new concerns regarding the 787, and would work with the company to determine appropriate action.

Boeing shares are down around 30% this year amid all the problems.

Boeing finds new flaws in 787 jets: sources

STORY: Boeing has found more quality problems on its jets. Reuters sources say the issues this time concern its 787 widebody planes. They say the aerospace giant has found hundreds of incorrectly tightened fasteners on some undelivered aircraft. The sources say the problem was discovered at...

uk.finance.yahoo.com

 

[najaB]

Another problem for Boeing, this time related to washers being incorrectly fitted on the 787.

Is this another problem, or a recurrence of a previous problem. Pretty sure I remember this being an issue before.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Is this another problem, or a recurrence of a previous problem. Pretty sure I remember this being an issue before.

There was previously a shortage of fasteners in 2008, incorrectly fastened nuts and bolts in 2019 and incorrectly fastened fasteners in 2021. Nothing on washers, I believe, which is what this issue is about.

 

[ainsworth74]

Think we can lock this again as clearly there's no further developments that relate to the incident mentioned at the start of this thread.

 

[rg177]

Reopened to allow @najaB to give an update.